Softball | April 05, 2017

SEASIDE, Calif. — After an undefeated run to the title at the Tournament of Champions last week, the Cal State Monterey Bay softball team jumped into the Top 10 for the first time this season, checking in at No. 8 in the latest NFCA/NCAA Division II poll.

The Otters enter the week riding an 18–game winning streak and a 29–4 record. The 29–4 mark is the best start in program history. They're alone in first place in the CCAA (17–3), with No. 1 Humboldt State and No. 13 Chico State following in that order.

CSUMB leads the CCAA and ranks No. 5 nationally in batting average at .371. All nine regulars in the Otter batting order are hitting better than .300, led by four of the CCAA's top 5 hitters. Lusi Stanley (San Jose/Howard College) leads the league with a .430 average. Julia Garcia (Ventura College), Courtney Hennings (Amador Valley HS) and Jayme Stark (La Quinta HS) all are hitting over .400 and rank two, four and five respectively.

CSUMB also ranked, No. 4 nationally in win–loss percentage (.879), No. 7 in fielding percentage (.976), No. 12 in slugging percentage (.527) and No. 14 in triples per game (0.42 tpg). All of those numbers lead the CCAA as well.

In the circle, freshman Hayley Fein (Sparks, Nev./Spanish Springs HS) paces the circuit with 17 wins while her .220 opponent batting average ranks No. 2.

The Otters return to CCAA action with six conference games this week, begining with a Wednesday twinbill at Stanislaus State. They'll return home to host Cal State East Bay in a 4–game series at the Otter Sports Complex Apr. 7–8.