LA JOLLA, Calif. — After a dominating offense earned the Cal State Monterey Bay softball team 15 wins in its first 19 games, Otter pitching took its turn in the spotlight Wednesday evening as
Hayley Fein (Sparks, Nev./Spanish Springs HS) and
Rosalia Keirns (Claremont HS) tossed a pair of shutouts to lead CSUMB to a 1–0, 3–0 sweep of UC San Diego at the Triton Softball Field.
The Otters came into the games ranked No. 4 nationally with a .380 team batting average. UCSD pitching held the Otters somewhat in check (a .286 average Wednesday), but the Triton offense couldn't solve the young Otter arms. UCSD managed just four hits against Fein and just a single single off of Keirns.
Red–hot
Sam Luna (Salinas HS/MPC) cashed in a leadoff double by
Lusi Stanley (San Jose/Howard College) in the fifth inning for the only run in the opener.
Courtney Hennings (Amador Valley HS) doubled and came around to score on a second inning error in the nightcap. RBI doubles by
Madison Casto (Sunnyvale/Homestead HS) and
Anneliese Lopez (Ventura/Buena HS) added insurance in the sixth.
That was more than enough for Keirns. Only a 2–out single to shortstop by Danica Kazakoff in the fifth inning denied her first collegiate no–hitter.
GAME 1 WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… Hayley Fein snared a line drive off the bat of Kelsi Maday with the tying run on first in the seventh inning.
GAME 2 WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… Back–to–back doubles by
Madison Casto and
Anneliese Lopez gave the Otters a 3–0 lead in the sixth.
LEADING OFF… The shutout by
Rosalia Keirns came in just her fourth collegiate start and her first collegiate complete game.
ON DECK… The 1–hitter by
Rosalia Keirns was the first by an Otter in a 7–inning game since
Cori Reinhardt no–hit Holy Names University for a 4–0 win on Mar. 27, 2015.
IN THE HOLE… After a 4-for-6 performance Thursday lifted
Sam Luna's batting average to .310, all nine Otter starters are now hitting .300 or better for the season. As a team, CSUMB is hitting a CCAA–leading .371.
LEADERS OF THE RAFT… Sam Luna (4x6, GW RBI, SB);
Anneliese Lopez (2x6, 2 2Bs, RBI);
Madison Casto (2x6, 2B, R, RBI);
Hayley Fein (W, 7.0 IP, ShO, 4 H, 3 K,);
Rosalia Keirns (W, 7.0 IP, ShO, H, 2 K).
THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters conclude their 4–game set in La Jolla with a doubleheader against the Tritons starting Friday at noon.
GO OTTERS!
