HAYWARD, Calif. — Another dominant performance by sophomore pitcher Hayley Fein (Sparks, Nev./Spanish Springs HS) helped Cal State Monterey Bay to a Sunday split with Academy of Art University at the Otter Sports Complex. CSUMB breezed in the opener 7–1 before leaving the potential tying run on base in the seventh inning of a 6–3 loss in the nightcap.

Fein was brilliant in the opener, tossing a 3–hitter while allowing just a single, unearned run. CSUMB made consecutive errors on the game's first two plays to allow Art to score before Fein put up all naughts the rest of the day. She fanned four and didn't walk a batter in earning her fourth win.

Junior Courtney Hennings (Amador Valley HS) swung the big bat in Game 1, hitting her fourth home run of the season in addition to a pair of 2–out, RBI singles to finish the game with five RBI.

Game two saw some shaky defense and a bit of a wildness from Otter starter Morgan Hawkins help stake Art to an early 4–0 lead. CSUMB got a combined 6 1/3 innings of solid relief from Ellie Bauer (San Rafael HS) and Rosalia Keirns (Fontana/Claremont HS) to stay in the game against a strong start by Urban Knight freshman Brooke Larson.

Back–to–back doubles by Sierra Gonzalez (Pleasant Grove HS) and Kierns in the fifth finally got CSUMB on the board. The Otters pushed two more runs across in the seventh and twice brought the winning run to the plate but couldn't complete the rally.
 

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GAME 1 WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… Courtney Hennings gave the Otters a 2–1 lead with her fourth homer of the season in the first inning. Art didn't come close to touching Fein for the balance of the game.

GAME 2 WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… Art pitcher Brooke Larson got Fein to ground out to first with the base loaded to end the game. Fein represented the winning run.

CLOSE, NO CIGAR, BUT A DOUBLE… Junior P/INF Rosalia Keirns nearly made her first collegiate hit a home run when she blasted a shot to deep left center in the fifth inning of the nightcap. The towering fly hit the top of the fence but bounced back into play, forcing her to settle for an RBI double. It was her first official plate appearance since her freshman season of 2016.

WHAT A CATCH… Sophomore Sierra Gonzales did some relief catching in Game 2 Sunday and looked like a natural behind the plate. She made several solid defense plays and even threw out a would–be base stealer. Catching suited her offensively as well as she finished the game 2–for–3 with a double and a run scored.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… Courtney Hennings (5x9, HR (4), 2 R, 6 RBI, SB); Joanna Perruccio (2x5, 2 R, SB); Rosalia Keirns (2x2, 2B, R, RBI, 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 K); Sierra Gonzalez (2x3, 2B, R); Hayley Fein (W (4–3), 7.0 IP, CG, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 0 BB).

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters hit the road for a 4–game series at Sonoma State Feb. 23–24 in Rohnert Park. First pitch both days will be at noon.