SEASIDE, Calif. – The No. 13-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team split its doubleheader with Western Oregon on Saturday at the Otter Sports Complex. CSUMB took game one by the score of 6-5, but fell in the nightcap, 6-3.
GAME 1
For the second straight game, the Otters erased an early deficit to come back and secure a victory.
CSUMB found itself down 4-0 in the fifth inning, but then scored three in the fifth and posted another three-spot in the eighth to earn their second consecutive victory on the young season.
Jimmy Garcia batted 2-for-5, drove in two runs and smashed his first career home run.
KW Quilici also collected two hits, while Fresno State transfer
Mike McKernan blasted a two-run homer in his first career at-bat in an Otter uniform.
Anthony Gniady earned his first career win at CSUMB, allowing just one hit in three innings of relief.
Vincent Cicolello closed the door in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
The Otters got back in the ballgame in the fifth inning when Garcia hit his two-run homer and
Javier Felix singled up the middle to plate
Jaden Sheppard.
In the eighth, the longball tied the score at five when McKernan turned on one for a two-run shot. Two batters later, Quilici drove in
Nick Maestas for the eventual game-winner.
GAME 2
CSUMB dropped its first contest of the season, falling to Western Oregon, 6-3. The Wolves raced out to a 6-0 lead – one the Otters finally couldn't overcome.
Jaden Sheppard recorded two of the four hits for CSUMB, including a no-doubt home run for his first of the season.
Henry Proger was tagged with the loss in his first start for the Otters.
Drew Aguiar and
Antoine Valerio came out of the pen to hold the Wolves to one hit over five combined innings.
CSUMB will look to claim the opening series tomorrow at Noon.
