SEASIDE, Calif. — Senior Day at the Otter Sports Complex made for many heroes as the No. 7 ranked Cal State Monterey Bay softball team clinched its fifth California Collegiate Athletic Association title in eight seasons with a dramatic doubleheader sweep of No. 15 Chico State Saturday afternoon. CSUMB scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the seventh en route to a 9–8, 12–inning win in a marathon opener that lasted nearly four hours.

The Otters scored the first four runs in the nightcap for a more conventional 4–2 win that—combined with Humboldt State's split at Sonoma State—sealed the title for the Otters.

CSUMB improved to 41–8 overall and 29–7 in the CCAA. The Otters head to Arcata to take on No. 3 ranked Humboldt State next weekend, though those games will be important primarily from a regional seeding perspective after Saturday's results.

Chico State (32–13, 22–12 CCAA) heads home to host Sonoma State in a key 4–game series for both teams next weekend.

Junior Julia Garcia (Ventura HS) played the offensive hero in the opener. Her 2–out, 2–run single in the bottom of the seventh off Chico ace Haley Gilham sent the game to extras before her bases–loaded walk in the bottom of the 12th gave CSUMB the win.

Freshman pitcher Hayley Fein (Sparks, Nev./Spanish Springs HS) gave up five runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings as the starter before coming back to throw five innings of 2–hit, shutout relief to earn the win.

Fein came back to start Game 2 and tossed a complete–game 5–hitter to improve to 27–7. Garcia gave her a big lift by hitting her 13th homer of the season, a 2–run shot, in the first inning to give the Otters a lead they would not relinquish.
 

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GAME 1 WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… The Otters loaded the bases with no outs in the 12th inning for Julia Garcia, who drew a 3–2 walk to bring Sam Luna (Salinas HS/MPC) home with the winning run.

GAME 2 WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… With Chico's leading hitter Kristin Worley at the plate representing the go–ahead run, Hayley Fein coaxed the freshman outfielder to fly out to shallow right field for the final out.

TITLE TIME… Saturday's wins give CSUMB its fifth CCAA softball title since 2010. Although the program began a scant 12 seasons ago (2006), the Otters now own regular season conference titles in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017.

LEADING OFF… How the CCAA Was Won: Although all teams won't play the same number of games due to rain outs, the Otters clinched the CCAA title based on best winning percentage. The lowest winning percentage CSUMB can earn is .725 (29–11). Sonoma State could match that (with a sweep of Chico while MB is swept at Humboldt), but the Otters took three of four from the Seawolves back in February to win the tiebreaker. Humboldt State can't finish better than .714 (25–10) while San Bernardino could finish as high as .700 (28–12).

ON DECK… Vanessa Garcia is in line to vie for the CCAA triple crown. Garcia will enter the final week of the regular season leading the CCAA in batting average (.430), and RBI (55) while tied for the league lead in home runs (13).

IN THE HOLE… Triple Double Edition: Senior Jenae Coleman (Castaic/Hart HS) tied the CSUMB record with three doubles in Game 2 Saturday. She now shares the record with Anneliese Lopez (Ventura/Buena HS) and Bianca Noriega.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… Julia Garcia (5x10, HR (13), R, 5 RBI); Jenae Coleman (4x9, 3 2B, 2 RBI); Vanessa Garcia (3x7, SB, SAC); Sam Luna (2x7, 3 SB, 2 R, RBI); Hayley (2 W (27–7), CG, 14.1 IP, 13 H, 6 K).

THE LAST WORD… "Anyone who knows softball understands how very difficult it is to win a CCAA Championship. This title means more to all of us then words can say. I am in awe of what this group has accomplished and the adversity that we have overcome.." — CSUMB Head Coach Andrea Kenney

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters conclude the regular season with a 4–game set at Humboldt State Apr. 28–29 in Arcata.