SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay softball team earned its first conference series victory under first-year head coach Emily Montañez, splitting the Saturday doubleheader with Cal State San Bernardino by identical 7-3 scores. CSUMB moves to 11-7 overall and 4-4 in CCAA play.
 
The Otters enjoyed their first series of 2025 at the Otter Sports Complex by winning the first three games of the four-game set, scoring a combined 19 runs in the three victories.
 
GAME ONE
 
CSUMB never looked back after San Bernardino jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, scoring four in the first and another in the second to take a 5-2 early advantage.
 
The Coyotes would add one more in the fourth but the Otters put the game away with a pair of runs in the sixth.
 
Six different Otters banged out all seven of their hits as Nani Areola went 2-for-2. The first five batters in the CSUMB order accounted for all but one of the knocks on the day.
 
Anastacia Alba smashed her first home run on the season, while Abreanna Alba and Jackie Perales ripped doubles. Oli Perez batted 1-for-3 and drove in a pair.
 
Summer Voth allowed three runs on two hits in 3 1/3, while Savannah Madrigal struck out three in 3 2/3 of scoreless relief.
 
GAME TWO
 
It was a tale of two games for the Otters as they were the ones to race out to the early lead, but this time saw it evaporate as the Coyotes scored seven unanswered to salvage a win in the finale.
 
Anastacia Alba and Abreanna Alba both had multi-hit games as Abreanna drove in two and Anastacia had one.
 
The sisters did all their damage in the second inning. Anastacia drew a bases loaded walk to plate Ellie Escalante and then Abreanna drilled a two-run single up the middle to score Ally Alcayaga and Jackie Perales.
 
The Otters hit the road for a four-game series at Cal Poly Humboldt. The two-teams open play with a doubleheader on Friday, March 7. First pitch of game one is slated for Noon at the Humboldt Softball Stadium.