Softball | March 22, 2017

SEASIDE, Calif. — After jumping into sole possession of first place in the CCAA with an impressive sweep at UC San Diego last weekend, the Cal State Monterey Bay softball team moved up three more spots in the national rankings, checking in at No. 18 in the latest NFCA/NCAA Division II poll.

The Otters enter the week 19–4 overall. The 19–4 mark is the second–best start in program history through 23 games, trailing only the 2015 squad which opened 20–3. They're in first place in the CCAA (13–3), with No. 4 Humboldt State, unranked Sonoma State and No. 7 Chico State following in that order.

CSUMB leads the CCAA and ranks No. 6 nationally in batting average at .372. CSUMB also ranked No. 12 nationally in win–loss percentage (.826), No. 13 in slugging percentage (.532) and No. 17 in fielding percentage (.971). All of those numbers lead the CCAA as well.

Individually, junior Jayme Stark (La Quinta HS) and sophomore Lusi Stanley (San Jose/Howard College) rank 1–2 in the CCAA batting race at .477 and .439 respectively. Sophomore Courtney Hennings (Amador Valley HS) is No. 5 at .422. In the circle, freshman Hayley Fein (Sparks, Nev./Spanish Springs HS) paces the circuit with 11 wins while her .234 opponent batting average ranks No. 2.

The Otters return home to the Otter Sports Complex riding and 8–game winning streak to host Cal State San Marcos Mar. 25–26. They'll take a break from conference play to take part in the Tournament of Champions Mar. 31 through Apr. 2 in Turlock.