SEASIDE, Calif. — Sophomore
Hayley Fein (Sparks, Nev./Spanish Springs HS) dazzled in a 1–hit, opening game performance to lead Cal State Monterey Bay to split with visiting Stanislaus State Friday at the Otter Sports Complex.
Fein's gem lifted the Otters to a 5–0 win in Game 1 before the Otter offense went silent to spoil a solid effort by junior
Celeste Villagrana (Garden Grove HS/Howard College) in a 2–1 Game 2 defeat.
Fein sparkled in all facets in the opener. In addition to allowing only three base runners, she went 3–for–3 with an RBI at the plate and made a sliding catch to take away a sure hit on defense.
A second–inning Fein single set the stage for the only run she would need. Her knock sent
Savanna Salyer Kovacs (Camarillo HS) from first to third from where she scored on a
Gabrielle Flores (San Jose/Presentation HS) sac fly.
Fein's RBI single and a run–scoring double by
Jayme Stark (La Quinta HS) made it 3–0 Otters in the fourth. Back–to–back doubles by Forbes and
Alyssa Burt (Garden Grove/Pacifica HS) accounted for the final two runs.
A triple by
Courtney Hennings (Amador Valley HS) and a double by
Julia Garcia (Oxnard HS/Ventura College) staked Villagrana to a 1–0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap. But Stanislaus took advantage of a pair of bunt hits, a throwing error and a sacrifice fly to score twice in the third inning.
The Otters got runners to third base with one out in both the third and fourth innings but could bring them home. That proved to be the ball game as Stanislaus starter Megan Stacy retired the final 11 batters she face close it out.
GAME 1 WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… A
Jayme Stark double made it 3–0 Otters in the fourth inning. Stanislaus got just one runner into scoring position in the entire game versus
Hayley Fein.
GAME 2 WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… Stanislaus pitcher Megan Stacy fanned
Gabrielle Forbes and
Nikki Jones with
Sierra Gonzalez at third base to end the fourth inning. CSUMB did not get another base runner over the final three innings.
A SMALL SPARK… The Otters have suffered a bit of a power outage over the final two months of the season, hitting just one home run in their last 32 games. But they got a bit of a spark in the power department Friday with five doubles and a triple in the doubleheader.
1–HIT WONDER… Hayley Fein's 1–hitter Friday was the first of her collegiate career.
LEADERS OF THE RAFT… Hayley Fein (W (16–15), CG, 1 H, 0 R, 3 K, 1 BB; 3x3, R, RBI);
Gabrielle Forbes (2x4, 2B, 2 R, RBI);
Julia Garcia (1x4, 2B, R, RBI);
Savanna Salyer Kovacs (1x4, 2B, R);
Alyssa Burt (1x5, 2B, 2 RBI).
THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters conclude their 2018 season with a doubleheader versus Stanislaus State Saturday at noon.
GO OTTERS!
