LAS VEGAS, Nev. — No. 15 ranked Cal State Monterey Bay played a pair of uncharacteristically sloppy games as the Otters were upset twice on Day 2 of the Desert Stinger Classic at Majestic Park. CSUMB fell 8–5 in Saturday's first game versus Eastern New Mexico and 9–6 Saturday night versus Central Washington.
CSUMB committed five errors combined in the two games in addition to several mental mistakes in the field that led directly to opponent scoring chances. Otter pitchers, meanwhile, were unusually generous, yielding 20 hits including five total home runs Saturday.
The offense got home runs from
Lusi Stanley (San Jose/Howard College) and
Courtney Hennings (Amador Valley HS) against Easter New Mexico. Stanley added a double in the nightcap against Central Washington.
The Otters had a chance to break both games open early. Up 2–0 versus Eastern, they had the bases loaded with one out in the second inning when pinch–hitter
Katie Ramos tapped a 1–hopper back to the circle for an inning–ending 1–2–3 double play. Tied 3–3 in the second inning against Central,
Julia Garcia came up with the bases juiced and two outs only to see Wildcat shortstop Theresa Moyle making a leaping catch of her humpback liner that would have scored a pair.
The Eastern New Mexico Game Was Over When… the final strike crossed the plate. CSUMB brought the tying run to the plate twice in the seventh inning before ENMU pitcher Hanna Gray ended the game with a ground out and a strikeout.
The Central Washington Game Was Over When… the Otters pulled to within 6–4 in the top of the fourth inning when Jacie McDaniels hit a 2–out, 2–run double to increase the Wildcat lead to 8–4.
The Hits Just Keep On Coming… Julia Garcia ran her current hitting streak to 24 games and her streak of reaching base safely to 40 games Saturday night, but by the skin of her teeth. After going 1-for-4 with a 2–run double in the opener versus Eastern, she singled to the hole at deep short in her final at bat against Central. She finished the day 2-for-8 with a pair of RBI.
Welcome To The Club… Freshman pitcher
Ellie Bauer (San Rafael HS) made her collegiate debut a memorable one, striking out two Central Washington batters in 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Sierra Gonzalez (Pleasant Grove HS) and
Alexis Weekes (Lakewood HS) each collected their first collegiate hits in the seventh inning of the CWU game. Gonzales came around to score on an RBI single by Weekes.
Leaders Of The Raft… Lusi Stanley (3x7, 2B, HR [1], R, 2 RBI);
Courtney Hennings (4x6, HR [2], 2 R, 3 RBI);
Jayme Stark (3x5, R,RBI);
Julia Garcia (2x8, 2B, 2 RBI).
They've Got Next… The Otters conclude play at the Desert Stinger Classic Sunday with game against Concordia–Irvine at 2 p.m.
GO OTTERS!
