SEASIDE, Calif. – Behind the bats of Andrew Lehmann and James Starkus atop the order, the No. 9-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team swept Western Oregon in a doubleheader on Saturday at the Otter Sports Complex.
 
The Otters (20-5), winners of seven in a row, won the first game 12-2, and then claimed the afternoon tilt, 7-2. The series victory marked the sixth on the season for CSUMB, who has yet to lose one in 2026.
 
Lehman and Starkus combined for seven hits, eight runs and seven RBI over the two contests as CSUMB combined for 19 runs on 25 hits.
 
Game One
 
The Otters established early control with a two-run first inning on the strength of a James Starkus two-run home run to center, plating Andrew Lehmann ahead of him, giving CSUMB an immediate 2-0 advantage.
 
The offensive explosion continued in the second inning, where the Otters scored four runs to extend their lead to 6-0. Bobby Benavidez contributed a solo home run, followed by Lehmann's two-run homer to left field. Conner Smith added an RBI on a sacrifice fly, capping the four-run frame.
 
Monterey Bay added four more runs in the fourth inning to reach 10-0. Smith drove in a run with a single down the right field line, Kyle Olimpia followed with an RBI double down the left field line, and Benavidez delivered a two-run single up the middle to extend the lead further.
 
The Otters scored their final two runs in the sixth inning when Xander Sielken recorded a two-run single up the middle, pushing the advantage to 12-0.
 
Western Oregon scored one run in the fifth inning on a wild pitch and added another in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Mohler, but the Wolves' offense could not generate any meaningful momentum against the Otter pitching staff.
 
Offensively, Lehmann finished with two hits, including a home run and two RBIs. Starkus contributed one home run and two RBIs, while Benavidez recorded two hits, one home run, and three RBIs. Sielken collected three hits and two RBIs, and Smith added one hit and two RBIs.
 
On the mound, winning pitcher Daniel Flores (2-1) allowed four hits and one earned run over five innings, while striking out four and walking two. The CSUMB bullpen was equally effective, combining for four innings of scoreless relief.
 
Game Two
 
James Starkus once again got things going by launching a two-run home run to center field, scoring Andrew Lehmann for the 2-0 lead.
 
CSUMB extended its lead significantly in the fourth inning, scoring five runs to reach 7-0. Lehmann drove in a run with a single to center field, scoring Nick Maestas.
 
The inning continued when Xander Sielken reached on a throwing error by Western Oregon's shortstop and advanced to second, allowing both Starkus and Lehmann to score unearned runs. Jason Del Villar followed with a double to right-center, scoring Sielken. Kyle Olimpia capped the frame with a single up the middle, driving in Del Villar to complete the five-run outburst.
 
Western Oregon scored one run in the fifth inning when Jayger Baldwin homered down the left field line, cutting the deficit to 7-1. The Wolves added their second run in the sixth inning when Baldwin singled and drove in Alex Harden, narrowing the gap to 7-2.
 
Offensively, Lehmann finished with two hits and one RBI, while drawing a walk. Starkus contributed two hits, one home run, and two RBIs, while also drawing two walks.
 
Del Villar recorded one double and one RBI. Olimpia collected two hits and one RBI, while Smith added one hit and two walks. Maestas contributed a triple, and one run scored.
 
On the mound, winning pitcher Andrew Kotin (5-1) allowed four hits and one run over five innings, while striking out six. Jacob Parks provided effective relief, allowing three hits and one run over two innings, striking out three.
 
The Otters will aim for the sweep tomorrow. First pitch has been moved up to 11 a.m.