SEASIDE, Calif. – The No. 9-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team defeated Western Oregon, 10-9, in 11 innings on Sunday at the Otter Sports Complex, improving to 21-5 on the strength of its eighth-straight victory.
 
The Wolves built an early advantage, scoring two unearned runs in the first inning on a balk and a sacrifice fly. WOU extended its lead to 5-0 in the second inning when Zane Garvey hit a two-run home run and Chris Arce drove in a run with a single up the middle.
 
CSUMB responded with two runs in the second on Jason Del Villar's solo home run and Noah Zertuche's RBI double down the right field line.
 
The Otters continued chipping away at the deficit. Kyle Olimpia drove in a run with a double to left-center in the fourth inning, and Olimpia added another RBI single in the sixth to cut Western Oregon's lead to 6-4.
 
The seventh inning proved pivotal for the Otter comeback. Conner Smith drove in a run with a single through the left side, followed by Bobby Benavidez's two-run double down the left field line. Olimpia added his third RBI of the game with a single through the left side, and Nick Maestas capped the inning with an RBI single up the middle, giving the Otters a 9-6 advantage.
 
The Wolves tied the game in the eighth inning when Arce launched a three-run home run to left field, knotting the score at 9-9 and setting the stage for extra innings.
 
The game remained tied through the tenth inning before Starkus delivered the decisive blow in the 11th, sending a solo home run to center field for the walk-off victory. The home run was his third of the series and 11^th on the season.
 
Olimpia led the Otters offensively with four hits and three RBIs, including two doubles. Benavidez contributed three hits and two RBIs with one double. Del Villar and Starkus each recorded one home run and one RBI, while Smith, Zertuche, and Maestas each drove in a run.
 
On the mound, Brandon Ashley (2-0) earned the win with a perfect inning of relief. Drew Aguiar provided crucial relief over three innings, allowing two hits while striking out seven.
 
The Otters return to conference play as they hit the road and travel to Hayward for a four-game series against Cal State East Bay. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, March 27.