SAN MARCOS, Calif. — No. 14 Cal State Monterey Bay regained sole possession of first place in the CCAA by sweeping a doubleheader at Cal State San Marcos, 7–3 and 7–5, Friday afternoon at the CSUSM Baseball Field.
CSUMB improved to 22–7 overall and 16–7 in the CCAA. Cal State L.A. split a doubleheader at home with Chico State to fall one game back while No. 22 UCSD and Cal Poly Pomona also split home doubleheaders (against East Bay and Sonoma State respectively) to fall two games off the pace.
Jacob Tonascia (San Benito HS/Mission College) swung the big bat once again, finishing the doubleheader 3–for–7, including his 10th home run of the season, to pull within one of teammate
Hayden Duer (Davis HS) for the CCAA lead. For his part, Duer slugged his ninth double of the season in the opener to run his hitting streak to 14 games.
TJ Dove (River Valley HS/Yuba CC) doubled and homered as part of a 3–hit effort in Game 1.
Kyle Czaplak (Pacific Grove HS) added a triple in the opener while
Darren Kriz (Chatsworth/Chaminade Prep) and
Kyle Guerra (San Leandro HS) each doubled in the nightcap.
CSUMB fell behind 1–0 early in Game 1 before a 2–run homer by Tonascia put the Otters up 2–1 in the fifth. San Marcos tied the game in its half of the inning, but Dove's RBI double opened the door to a 3–run Otter sixth that led the way to victory.
San Marcos also jumped to a 1–0 lead early in Game 2 when Kriz came up with a 2–out, bases–clearing double to break the seal on a decisive 5–run fourth inning.
Gabe Katich (Mt. Pleasant HS/Gavilan College) went eight strong innings, striking out six to earn the win in Game 1.
Colton Fletcher (San Jose/Westmont HS) fanned seven in 6 2/3 innings of the nightcap before
Connor Fabing (San Benito HS) came on to get the final out with the potential tying runs on base.
GAME 1 WAS OVER WHEN… TJ Dove's RBI double started a 3–run Otter sixth that gave them the lead for good.
GAME 2 WAS OVER WHEN… Colton Fletcher got Cougar cleanup hitter Marcus Wilhite to fly to center for the final out with the potential tying runs on base in the seventh.
ONE STREAK CONTINUES, ANOTHER ENDS… One significant individual streak continued while another ended for the Otters Friday.
TJ Dove had three hits in Game 1 and another in Game 2 to run his streak of reaching base safely to 28 games (that's every game this season).
Hayden Duer, meanwhile, had doubled in the opener to run his hitting streak to a team season–high 14 games before going 0–for–3 in the nightcap. It was his personal record and matched the fourth longest streak in MB history.
START ME UP… By improving to 22–7, the Otters now have the best record in program history through 29 games. The 2016 team started 21–8 en route to 34 wins and an NCAA Regional bid.
LEADERS OF THE RAFT… Jacob Tonascia (3x7, HR (9), 2 BB, 3 R, 2 RBI);
TJ Dove (4x10, 2B, HR (4), 2 R, 3 RBI);
Kyle Czaplak (2x7, 3B, R, RBI);
Kyle Guerra (4x8, 2B, SB, 2 R, 2 RBI);
Darren Kriz (2x2, 2B, BB, R, 4 RBI);
Gabe Katich (W (4–2), 8.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 6 K, 1 BB);
Colton Fletcher (W (6–1), 6.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 7 K, BB);
Connor Fabing (S (4), 1.1 IP, 0 R, H).
THE LAST WORD… "Today was much better baseball by both teams. We put together a big inning in each game which were the difference makers. Gabe was really good in Game 1, probably the best we've seen him this year. He has put in a lot of work to get back to who he's always been. Fletcher, once again, gave us another quality start and gave us a chance to win. Connor was able to effectively finish both games. Anytime we can get the ball to Connor with the lead, we like our chances" —
CSUMB Head Coach Walt White
THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters conclude their 4–game set at Cal State San Marcos with a single game Saturday at 11 a.m.
GO OTTERS!
