SEASIDE, Calif. — No. 14 Cal State Monterey Bay scored early and often before holding on late to earn a 12–9 series finale win over visiting Cal State Dominguez Hills Monday at the Otter Sports Complex. The Otters took the series three games to one.

CSUMB improved to 26–8 overall and 20–8 in conference play. The Otters lead a quartet of pursuers wrapped in a virtual tie for second place four games back. Cal Poly Pomona, next week's opponent, is five games behind at 15–13.

Monday's game looked like it was going to be a cake walk when 2–run doubles by Ruben Gonzalez (Murrieta Mesa HS) and Max Sanderson (Foothill HS/Chabot College) helped stake the Otters to a 5–0 lead in the second. RBI singles by Darren Kriz (Chaminade Prep/College of the Canyons), D'Andre Sanchez (Whittier/La Serna HS) and Gonzalez made it 8–0 after three.

The Otters tacked two in the fifth and two more in the eighth to take a 12–4 lead into the ninth inning. But a catcher's interference call and six consecutive singles put five on the board before Connor Fabing (San Benito HS) came in to get the final three outs for his eighth save.

Greg Steinbeck (San Benito HS) pitched three innings of relief to earn the win, improving to 3–0. Levi Noddin (Arroyo HS/Chabot College) started the game and allowed one run on four hits in four innings of work.

Sanderson and Gonzalez drove in three runs apiece to lead the Otter offense. Sanchez and Kriz both scored three runs.
 

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THE GAME WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… Connor Fabing got a strikeout, a ground out and a foul out with the tying runs at the plate to set the Toros down after they had scored five runs in the ninth.

FABING SAVING… Sophomore Connor Fabing earned his eight save of 2018 Monday afternoon. That mark ranks No. 2 in the CSUMB single–season record book. A.J. Quintero set the standard with 10 saves in 2013. Fabing is now tied with Kyle Narahara (2016 and 2017) and Harold Zosel (2012) for the No. 2 spot.

HE KEEPS ON ROLLING… TJ Dove kept his school record streak of reaching base safely alive with a hit and a walk during Monday's win over Cal State Dominguez Hills. He has reached in 34 consecutive games, or, to put it another way, in every game of his Otter career.

MORE LOVE FOR DOVE… TJ Dove singled in his final at bat Monday to lift his hitting streak to a personal season–high eight games.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… Darren Kriz (2x2, 2B, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB); Ruben Gonzalez (2x4, 2B, R, 3 RBI); Max Sanderson 1x4, 2B, 3 RBI, BB); Jacob Tonascia (1x5, 2B, RBI); D'Andre Sanchez (1x3, 3 R, 2 RBI).

THE LAST WORD… "It's never easy to win a game in the CCAA. I'm just happy that we got the win today. Now we have to refocus in a short week to get ready for another tough series at Cal Poly Pomona." — CSUMB Head Coach Walt White

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters head to Pomona to play a 4–game series with the Broncos. The series opens with a single game at Scolinos Field on Friday, Apr. 13. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.