SEASIDE, Calif. – The Otters found themselves down seven runs before they could even get comfortable in their own familiar dugout, but that did not spoil the home opener for the No. 14-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team.

Trailing 7-0 after just two innings, CSUMB scored 10 unanswered runs to stun Azusa Pacific en route to celebrating a 10-7 victory in the first game of the season at the Otter Sports Complex on Thursday afternoon.

Junior James Starkus put the squad on his shoulders offensively in his home debut in an Otter uniform, batting 4-for-5 with six RBI on the strength of two home runs and a double. 

The offense finally broke through in the fourth inning, as Andrew Lehmann delivered an RBI single to get the Otters on the board. In the fifth, Starkus provided the spark the lineup needed with a three-run homer, pulling CSUMB to within three runs and igniting the rally. 

The momentum continued in the seventh inning, when Starkus doubled in two more runs, and Bobby Benavidez added an RBI single to tie the game at 7-7. 

The Otters seized the lead for good in the eighth inning, scoring on a wild pitch before Noah Zertuche and Starkus unleashed back-to-back homers for the final ledger. Nick Maestas used his speed to record the eventual game-winner. 

Coming in the inning before as a defensive replacement, Maestas smacked a triple to left-center and then was aggressive on a wild pitch that just trickled behind the Cougar catcher, sliding under the tag for the eighth run of the game.

The offensive onslaught might not have been possible if it weren't for the Otter bullpen that kept the Cougars at bay after the second inning.

Junior Daniel Flores was the stopper for CSUMB, throwing five innings of three-hit ball and fanning seven, putting the Otters in position for the comeback.

Senior Andrew Kotin earned the win, pitching the final two innings without allowing a hit, while striking out two.

The two teams will meet tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.