ROHNERT PARK, Calif. — No. 13 Cal State Monterey Bay rallied back from a 5–1 deficit, twice giving itself chances to ice the game, before falling to Sonoma State 8–7 in 10 innings Sunday afternoon at Seawolf Diamond.
CSUMB scored twice in the ninth inning to take a 6–5 lead, only to see Sonoma equalize with a run in the bottom of the ninth. The Otters scored again in the 10th to go up 7–6. This time, after getting the first out in the bottom of the inning, CSUMB closer
Connor Fabing (San Benito HS) couldn't hold the lead, yielding four consecutive singles that secured the win for the hosts.
The loss spoiled a career–high 3–hit game for
Connor Caspersen (Amador Valley HS/Mission College), whose RBI double in the ninth inning tied the game at 5–5. Center fielder
TJ Dove (Yuba CC/River Valley HS) added a pair of hits to run his streak of reaching base safely to 42 games and his hitting streak to 16.
Hayden Duer (Davis HS),
Jacob Tonascia (San Benito HS/Mission College) and
Kyle Guerra (San Leandro HS) added two hits apiece to the 14–hit Otter attack.
THE GAME WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… Nathan Mann singled up the middle with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 10th to drive home the tying and winning runs.
THE ENERGIZER BUNNY… TJ Dove keeps going and going. He extended his school–record streak of reaching base safely to 42 games (e.g. every game of his Otter career) with a pair of base hits that also extended his hitting streak to a personal season–high 16 games.
WHERE THINGS STAND… CSUMB's (25–11) lead over UC San Diego (24–12) is at one game with eight games remaining in the regular season. Chico State (23–15) is three games back with six to play. Cal Poly Pomona (20–16) is five behind.
THE MAGIC NUMBER… CSUMB's magic number to clinch a spot in the CCAA Tournament is two. Any combination of two Otter wins over San Francisco State this week or two losses by Cal State L.A. eliminates the Gotors and Golden Eagles. Versus Sonoma State and East Bay, the magic number is one.
ANOTHER 30–WIN SEASON IN THE BOOKS… By taking the series at Sonoma State this weekend, the Otters (31–11) secured their fourth 30–win season in their last six campaigns. The CSUMB record for wins in a season is 39 (39–17) set by the 2013 club.
LEADERS OF THE RAFT… Connor Caspersen (3x5, 2B, 3 RBI);
TJ Dove (2x6, 2B, R, RBI);
Kyle Guerra (2x4, 2 R, SB);
Jacob Tonascia (2x5, R, BB);
Hayden Duer (2x5, BB).
THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters return to the friendly confines of the Otter Sports Complex to host a 4–game series with San Francisco State Apr. 27–29. The series begins with a single game Friday (Apr. 27) at 3 p.m.
GO OTTERS!
