SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 12 ranked Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team erupted for 28 runs to secure a road series victory in the doubleheader sweep Saturday over Cal State San Marcos at the Dennis A. Pugh Baseball Field. The Otters once again showcased their offensive might with a 19-5 win in the opener, and then claimed the series with a 9-4 win in the afternoon tilt.
 
After the weekend, CSUMB moves to 28-10 overall and 13-7 in conference play.
 
Game One
 
CSUMB unleashed an offensive display, defeating Cal State San Marcos, 19-5,
 
The Otters established early control with a two-run first inning. James Starkus delivered an RBI single to center field to score Xander Sielken, and Andrew Lehmann followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Sielken, giving the Otters a 2-0 advantage before San Marcos could respond.
 
The Cougars mounted a brief comeback attempt in the third inning when Zech Samayoa launched a three-run home run to center field, scoring Jacob Embleton and Canon King to tie the game at 3-3. San Marcos added another run in the fourth when Rees Kent singled to right field to score Max Shor.
 
The turning point came in the fifth inning when the Otters erupted for six runs to seize control. Lehmann doubled down the right field line to score Sielken, then Kyle Olimpia singled to left field and advanced on an error, scoring both Lehmann and Starkus for a 5-4 lead. Noah Zertuche followed with an RBI single, and Nick Maestas advanced on a throwing error before Bobby Benavidez doubled to left field to extend the lead to 8-4. San Marcos managed one run in the inning, but the damage was done.
 
The decisive seventh inning proved catastrophic for the Cougars as the Otters scored six more runs. Zertuche launched a solo home run to right field, Sielken doubled to center field to score Conner Smith, and Starkus singled to score Sielken. Lehmann then delivered the knockout blow with a three-run home run to right field, extending the lead to 14-5.
 
Monterey Bay continued its offensive onslaught in the eighth and ninth innings, adding five more runs to reach the final 19-5 margin.
 
Andrew Lehmann led the offensive assault with an exceptional performance: three hits, seven RBIs, three runs scored, one home run, two doubles, and one sacrifice fly. Noah Zertuche contributed four hits and three RBIs, while Sielken recorded three hits and four runs scored.
 
Daniel Flores (W, 3-2) earned the victory, pitching 5.2 innings and allowed 11 hits and five runs with two walks and five strikeouts. Jacob Parks (S, 1) impressed in relief with 3.1 innings, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts. Ben Pernetti (L, 1-3) took the loss for San Marcos, surrendering nine hits and eight runs in 4.2 innings.
 
Game Two
 
CSUMB overcame an early deficit to defeat CSUSM, 9-4, in the final game of the series.
 
San Marcos struck first, capitalizing on unearned runs to build a, 4-0 lead. Stephen Espinoza launched a triple to right center in the first inning, scoring Jacob Embleton and Victor Castaneda on unearned runs. Christopher Tampoya followed with a single through the left side to score Espinoza, extending the advantage to 3-0. The Cougars added another run in the second when Castaneda singled to first base to score Max Shor, pushing the lead to 4-0.
 
The Otters responded immediately in the second inning, cutting into the deficit with two runs. Noah Zertuche delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to score Andrew Lehmann, then Nick Maestas singled to second base to score Kyle Olimpia, narrowing the gap to 4-2.
 
The Otters continued their comeback in the third when Lehmann singled to center field to score Xander Sielken, making it 4-3 and setting the stage for a dramatic turnaround.
 
The turning point arrived in the fifth inning when Conner Smith launched a three-run home run to right center, scoring both Zertuche and Lehmann to give Monterey Bay a 6-4 advantage. The Otters never relinquished the lead, adding crucial insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
 
Maestas continued his torrid series by singling to center field in the seventh to score Zertuche, extending the lead to 7-4. In the eighth, Maestas delivered the final blow with a double to left field, scoring both Zertuche and Lehmann to seal the 9-4 victory.
 
Andrew Lehmann led the offensive charge with four hits and three runs scored, while Conner Smith contributed two hits and three RBIs with his decisive home run. Nick Maestas recorded three hits and four RBIs, including the crucial eighth-inning double. Noah Zertuche scored multiple runs and drove in one.
 
Andrew Kotin (W, 8-1) earned the victory with a dominant six-inning performance. Kyle Giovannoni impressed in relief with two scoreless innings and four strikeouts, while Preston Kelly recorded the final inning without allowing a hit.
 
The Otters return home to face Cal State San Bernardino for a four-game series. The first game is scheduled for Friday, April 17. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.