SEASIDE, Calif. — One strike away from a win in its NCAA Softball West Region opener, the No. 5 ranked Cal State Monterey Bay softball team suffered heartbreak instead as Wester Washington rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to pull a stunning 5–3 upset in Game 2 of the regional Thursday afternoon at the Otter Sports Complex.

Junior third baseman Julia Garcia (Ventura College) got things started with a bang for CSUMB, belting her CCAA leading 15th home run of the season to stake the Otters to a 3–1 lead in the first inning. But Western took advantage of a misplayed ball by the Otter defense to get one back in the sixth inning before tying the game on an 11–pitching, bases–loaded, 3–2 walk in with two outs in the seventh.

A 2–run single by Paityn Cyr gave the Vikings the final margin. CSUMB got the tying runs into scoring position in the bottom of the seventh but couldn't push them across.
 

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THE GAME WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… Anna Kasner got the final strikeout with the tying run in scoring position to end the game.

IN OTHER REGIONAL ACTION… Dixie State took the first game of the regional from Sonoma State, 5–4.

LEADING OFF… Julia Garcia's home run, her 15th of the season, leaves her one behind the CSUMB record of 16 set by Nina Villanueva in 2012.

ON DECK… The five hits registered by CSUMB were their second–fewest in a game this season. They were held to four hits three times, last versus Chico State in a 7–1 loss on Apr. 21.

IN THE HOLE… The Otters were 40–5 when scoring three or more runs in a game this season coming into Thursday's action.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… Julia Garcia (1x3, HR (15), 3 RBI); Mikal Cuellar (1x3, run); Chase Robledo (1x1, PH).

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters will play CCAA rival Sonoma State in an elimination game Friday at 1:30 p.m. The winner of that game will face the loser of Friday's first game between Dixie State and Western Washington.