SEASIDE, Calif. —The No. 7 ranked Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team smacked four home runs and used a 10-run eighth inning to run away from Cal State LA, 17-4, on Friday afternoon at the Otter Sports Complex.
 
The game marked the conference opener for both squads as the Otters improve to 12-3 overall and 1-0 in CCAA play. CSUMB has won seven straight and now scored in double-figures in its last four contests. 
 
The power display began in the very first inning when Andrew Lehmann launched a towering two-run home run to left field, scoring Xander Sielken and giving the Otters an immediate lead they would never relinquish.
 
Cal State LA managed to chip away with a sacrifice fly in the second, but Monterey Bay answered back in the fourth as Bobby Benavidez connected on a two-run blast to right field. The lead grew to 6–2 in the fifth frame thanks to a clutch two-RBI single from Noah Zertuche, and a sacrifice fly by Lehmann in the sixth.
 
The game transitioned from a steady lead to an absolute rout in the eighth inning as the Otters exploded for 10 runs on six hits. The frame saw CSUMB send 14 batters to the plate, highlighted by a massive grand slam from Benavidez—his second long ball of the afternoon.
 
The barrage continued as Casey Hinojosa came off the bench to add a two-run homer of his own to left field, punctuating a frame that included RBI knocks from Lehmann and Zertuche.
 
On the mound, Sonny Pena earned his first win of the season with a strong relief performance, navigating through the middle innings to keep the Golden Eagle bats at bay. The Otter pitching staff combined for 10 strikeouts.
 
Benavidez finished the game as the offensive standout, racking up six RBIs and three runs scored, while Lehmann contributed four RBIs of his own. Jason Del Villar chipped in a 3-for-4 effort at the plate.
 
The two teams will meet for a doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 11 a.m.