CARSON, Calif. — Senior Bianca Noriega (Camarillo HS) became the eighth pitcher in Cal State Monterey Bay history to win 10 games in a season when she tossed a 5–hitter to beat Cal State Dominguez Hills 7–1 and earn a split for the Otters in the opening doubleheader of their 4–game series Friday at Toro Diamond.

CSUMB (21–21, 11–18 CCAA) dropped the opener 6–5 in nine innings.

The Otter offense supported Noriega's gem with seven runs on 14 hits. The two biggest blasts came from Valerie Aguilar (Montebello/ELAC) who hit her first collegiate home run in the sixth inning, and freshman Courtney Hennings (Amador Valley HS), who added her team–leading sixth homer as part of a 4–run seventh that salted away the nightcap.

The Otters rallied from 4–1 down to take a 5–4 lead into the seventh inning of the opener before the Toros forced extras with a run in the bottom of the inning. The affair appeared headed for a 10th frame when Tori Pierucci got the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth, but the Toros reeled off four consecutive singles to walk-off the 6–5 win.

Courtney Varela (Torrance HS), playing in front of her hometown crowd, led the Otter offense by going 3-for-8 with three runs and five stolen bases. Her 28 steals on the season now rank No. 2 in the CSUMB single season record book, just two off the record of 30 set by Jessica Wardle in 2007.

Aguilar had a big day in addition to her home run, finishing the doubleheader 4-for-6 with three RBIs. Marielle Valdez (Merced College) had a career high three hits in the Game 2 win.

CSUMB and Dominguez Hills will conclude the season series with a doubleheader Saturday in Carson. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.