SEASIDE, Calif. — Cal State Monterey Bay baseball stayed undefeated in 2018, but the success came with more than its share of high drama as the Otters swept visiting Western Oregon University 14–13 and 4–3 Saturday at the Otter Sports Complex.

CSUMB (6–0 overall) saw an 8–run lead succumb to a blitzkrieg of a ninth inning comeback as WOU scored four times with two outs before Justin Spinner's 3–run homer tied the game. Spinner's heroics went for naught, however, when Otter center fielder TJ Dove (River Valley HS/Yuba CC) ripped bases–loaded, walkoff single to the wall in center to give the Otters the 14–13 victory in the opener.

A 2–run homer by Connor McCord capped a 3–run third inning for WOU in Game 2. But the Otters replied with a bit of home cooking in the bottom of the frame when Wolf left fielder Cody Dykstra lost Jacob Tonascia's (San Benito HS/Mission College) bases–loaded, 2–out fly ball in the sun. By the time he played it off the bounce, all three runners had scored and the Otters led 4–3.

Connor Fabing (San Benito HS) came on in relief of a starter Levi Noddin (Arroyo HS/Chabot College) and was brilliant, tossing three innings of 1–hit, shutout relief to secure the win for Noddin while earning his first save.

Saturday's game completed the nonconference portion of the Otter schedule. CSUMB jumps into CCAA action next week, beginning its 40–game league slate by hosting Cal State San Bernardino for a 4–game series Feb. 23–25.
 

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GAME ONE WAS OVER WHEN… TJ Dove roped a single over the head of center fielder Griffey Halle to plate D'Andre Sanchez for the walkoff win.

GAME TWO WAS OVER WHEN… Connor Fabing coaxed Jacob Martinez to ground out to complete on 1–2–3 seventh inning.

FEELING HOT, HOT, HOT… At 6–0 he Otters are off to a red–hot start to the 2018 season. It is the second best start in school history, trailing only the opening salvo fired by the 2016 squad, which began the season 9–0 en route to an NCAA West Regional bid.

YOU'LL HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN THAT… While an impressive performance to be sure, CSUMB's 17 hits in Game 1 weren't enough to crack the Otter Top 10 for hits in a game. That would have taken 18. The CSUMB record for hits in a game is 24, first set against (drum roll please) Western Oregon on Mar. 15, 2013.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… Jacob Tonascia (3x6, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI); Hayden Duer (2x7, HR (2), R, 4 RBI); D'Andre Sanchez (3x3, 2B, BB, 2 R); Jordan Esposo (1x4, 2B, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI); Connor Fabing (S (1), 3.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 K, 0 BB).

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters welcome Cal State San Bernardino to the Otter Sports Complex to open their CCAA schedule with a 4–game series Feb. 23–25. Game 1 will be a 2 p.m. first pitch.