TURLOCK, Calif. — Otter bats were eerily silent for most of Tuesday's doubleheader at Stanislaus State. But No. 8 ranked Cal State Monterey Bay got enough clutch hitting in Game 2 to support a dazzling relief effort from Alyssa D'Agostino (Chino Hills/Ayala HS) and earn a split at Warrior Field.

CSUMB lost the opener 4–0 before walking away with a 5–2 victory. The Game 1 loss snapped CSUMB's 18–game winning streak. The Game 2 win lifted its record to 30–5 overall (18–4 CCAA).

The Otters loaded the bases with one out in the first inning of the opener but couldn't score, a portent of things to come. They stranded eight runners in the game while Stanislaus cashed in all but two thanks to a 3–run homer from Katelyn McDonald that closed the scoring.

McDonald's 2–run double in the third inning of Game 2 staked the Warriors to another early lead. But D'Agostino came on to shut the door with 4 1/3 innings of no–hit relief.

With D'Agostino in control, the Otter offense rallied behind clutch efforts from Julia Garcia (Ventura College) and Madison Casto (Sunnyvale/Homestead HS). Garcia tied the game with a 2–out, bases loaded single in the fifth inning. Two pitches later, Casto clubbed her fourth homer of the season to complete the comeback.
 

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GAME 1 WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… Katelyn McDonald gave Stanislaus a 4–0 lead with a 3–run homer in the third inning. CSUMB did not get a runner past first base in the final four innings.

GAME 2 WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… Madison Casto hit laser to right to put the Otters ahead 5–2 in the fifth. The Stanislaus offense generated just a single walk over the final three innings.

LEADING OFF… The Game 1 loss was the first for the Otters since Mar. 3 at San Bernardino. The winning streak lasted 18 games and was the second longest in CSUMB history for any sport (the 2015 Otter softball team won 19 in a row).

ON DECK… Alyssa D'Agostino pitched a total of 6 1/3 innings of hit–free relief Tuesday, striking out five in the process. She earned the win in Game 2 to improve to 5–1 on the season.

IN THE HOLE… CSUMB returns home to host East Bay Saturday and Sunday. The Otters are 13–1 at home this season.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… Madison Casto (3x7, HR (4), R, 3 RBI); Julia Garcia (3x6, R, 2 RBI); Alyssa D'Agostino (W, 6.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 5 K).

THE LAST WORD… "The rigors of the past week caught up to us today. I am proud of the team for working through it and of Alyssa for pitching so well today." — CSUMB Head Coach Andrea Kenney

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters return home to host a 4–game set against Cal State East Bay Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 8–9.