TURLOCK, Calif. — Cal State Monterey Bay bats came alive Saturday afternoon to earn a split on Day 3 of the Tournament of Champions presented by the City of Turlock.

The Otters saw a 7–3 lead in the seventh inning evaporate in an 8–7 shocker against Simon Fraser University before shutting out Holy Names University 4–0 to close tournament action at 2–3.

Senior Cassie Gasper (Merced College/Univ. of Missouri) threw a 2–hitter for her fourth shutout of the season to beat Holy Names. The only two hits she allowed were a pair of seeing-eye singles in the fifth inning. She was flawless otherwise, striking out seven for her 12th win.

She got all of the run support she would need in the fourth inning when singles by Ellie Escalante (Soquel HS) and Sofia Cervantes (Chino/St. Lucy's Priory) set the table for a 2–out, RBI single by Ivana Perez (La Habra/Oregon State). Back-to-back-to-back doubles by Abby Alcayaga (Sonoma Valley HS), Alyssa Burt (Garden Grove/Pacifica HS) and Ally Alcayaga drove in three insurance runs in the sixth.

The Otters appeared to have Saturday's opener in the bag when they took a 7–3 lead into the seventh inning against Simon Fraser. Sophomore Kassidy Stetler (Mill Valley/Tamalpais HS) allowed a 2–run homer in the first inning before settling down to toss five shutout innings.

The Otter offense rallied to take the lead in the fourth on a 2-run single by Escalante and consecutive RBI doubles from Lauren Bullis (La Verne/Bishop Amat) and Cervantes. A 2–run laser from Ally Alcayaga in the fifth extended the Otter lead.

But Stetler began to tire in the sixth when she allowed a pair of hits and a run. The wheels fell off in the seventh when two singles and an error loaded the bases with no outs. A double and a home run later, SFU was on top 8–7. Stetler stopped the bleeding, but the Otter offense couldn't find the tying run in the home half of the seventh. 
 

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THE SFU GAME WAS OVER WHEN… Alyssa Burt led off the seventh with a walk but the heart of the Otter order couldn't advance her.

THE HNU GAME WAS OVER WHEN… Cassie Gasper pitched around a pair of singles in the fifth inning. They proved to be the only hits she would allow and they only chance the Hawks had to score in the game.

A HIGH FIVE FOR GASPER… Cassie Gasper moved into a tie for the No. 5 spot on the Otter career wins list with her 26th victory Saturday against Holy Names University. She ties Diane Ortiz (2010–11) for the fifth spot. It should be noted that the four players above her all played four seasons as Otters.

A HARD EIGHT FOR BURT… Alyssa Burt moved into sole possession of the No 8 spot on the CSUMB career RBI list with her run-scoring double in Saturday's 4–0 win over Holy Names University. Burt now has 108 career RBI. She needs seven more to pass Courtney Hennings (2016–19) for No. 7 on the list.

A PERFECT 10… Cassie Gasper earned her 10th Otter shutout in Saturday's 4–0 win over Holy Names. She becomes the fifth pitcher in Otter history to throw 10 shutouts.

DOUBLE DIGIT OTTERS… The Otters rapped 12 hits in Saturday's 4–0 win over Holy Names University. It marked the first time they put double digits in the hits column since they had 16 in a 14–2 win over Academy of Art on Mar. 11.

EXTRA-BASE HITS vs. SFU… DOUBLES: Lauren Bullis (1), Sofia Cervantes (1). TRIPLES: None. HOME RUNS: Ally Alcayaga (3)

EXTRA-BASE HITS vs. HNU… DOUBLES: Abby Alcayaga (9), Alyssa Burt (8), Ally Alcayaga (10). TRIPLES: None. HOME RUNS: None.

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters return to the friendly confines of the Otter Sports Complex and to CCAA action next weekend when they host San Francisco State for a 4–game series. The fun begins with a doubleheader Friday (Apr. 7) starting at 1 p.m.