AZUSA, Calif. — Cal State Monterey Bay will have to do it the hard way at the NCAA Division II West Regional after dropping a thrilling — albeit heartbreaking — 13–12 decision to Point Loma University Friday at the APU Baseball Complex.

The 22nd–ranked Otters (39–17 overall) will have to win twice Saturday to advance to Monday's championship game. Point Loma (34–17) stayed alive after dropping its opening round game and will play host Azusa Pacific in an elimination game Saturday.

The Otter bats did their part once again, scoring four in the third inning and seven in the sixth to erase deficits of 5–0 and 9–4 and take an 11–9 lead into the seventh. But missed opportunities on both offense and defense eventually cost the Otters.

Despite scoring in double figures for the 17th time this season, the CSUMB still left 15 runners on base. On the flip side, three Otter errors led to four unearned runs for the Sea Lions. By game's end, that combination proved lethal.

Senior first baseman Jacob Tonascia (San Benito HS/Mission College) put on another prodigious performance, hitting home run numbers 17 and 18 to drive in four runs. Catcher Hayden Duer (Davis HS) added his 18th homer of the season as well.

Seven different Otters contributed to the 12–hit day, led by three hits from Myles Hager (Tarzana/Chaminade Prep) and two hits apiece by Tonascia, Duer and Reed Oster (Napa HS).
 

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THE GAME WAS OVER WHEN OVER WHEN… With the tying and go–ahead runs on base, Point Loma second baseman Travis Takata went up the middle to snag a chopper by Myles Hager and toss to second just ahead of Ruben Gonzalez for the final out.

OTTERS DIG THE LONG BALL… With three homers Friday versus Point Loma, the Otters now have 56 home runs as a team in 2018. That breaks the record of 54 long balls hit by the 2016 squad.

DOUBLE (FIGURE) THE FUN… CSUMB scored in double  figures for the 18th time this season in Friday's 13–12 loss to Point Loma. The previous school record for double–figure scoring was 12 games by the 2015 and 2016 squads.

THE BASH BROTHERS KEEP BASHING… They've already shattered the school record for home runs and RBIs in a season, but Hayden Duer and Jacob Tonascia show no signs of slowing down. The duo increased the CSUMB season home run record to 18 as Tonascia hit two and Duer one Friday. Prior to this season Duer shared the record of 13 homers with Kevin Davidson.

For good measure, Tonascia also raised his school record for RBI in a season to 64 with four Friday while Duer added a pair to bring his total to 60. Prior to this season, the RBI record was 51 by Kevin Davidson (2015 and 2016).

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters will play loser of Friday's late game between UC San Diego and Cal Baptist Saturday at 11 a.m. The winner will meet the winner of UCSD/Cal Baptist Saturday at 7 p.m.