SEASIDE, Calif. – The pair of games on Friday proved to be much different than the series opener on Thursday as the arms proved to be the difference for both squads in the doubleheader at the Otter Sports Complex. Cal Poly Pomona shut out No. 10 Cal State Monterey Bay, 4-0, in the opener before the Otters took game two, 3-2.
After the doubleheader, the Otters move to 24-9 overall and 9-6 while the Broncos are 20-13 and 12-7 in league play.
Game One
Cal Poly Pomona limited Cal State Monterey Bay to just three hits in a 4-0 victory to open the doubleheader.
Anthony Vasquez delivered a stellar performance on the mound, pitching all nine innings while allowing only three hits and striking out four batters.
The Broncos offense scored a pair of runs in the sixth and another two in the eighth. A crucial error broke the scoreless tie.
CSUMB managed three hits and committed two errors, unable to generate any offensive momentum against Vasquez's gem.
Daniel Flores (2-2) took the loss despite a respectable effort, allowing five hits and two unearned runs over 6 1/3 innings.
Owen Seidel made his Otter debut, striking out three in his lone inning of work.
Game Two
After suffering a shutout loss in the early matchup, CSUMB responded with a redemptive, 3-2, victory over Cal Poly Pomona in the second game of Friday's doubleheader.
The Otters struck quickly, scoring three runs in the first two innings to seize control.
James Starkus singled to right field in the first inning, driving in
Bobby Benavidez for an early 1-0 lead.
The offensive momentum continued in the second when
Xander Sielken singled up the middle to score
Nick Maestas, and
Jason Del Villar followed with a single to right-center that scored Sielken, extending the advantage to 3-0.
Hayden Hall spearheaded the Otter pitching that proved to be the difference, allowing only four hits and two unearned runs over six innings while striking out eight batters.
The Broncos pulled within one but
Preston Kelly closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning, recording his first save of the season.
Sielken led the Otters with two hits and an RBI, while Starkus and Del Villar each contributed two hits and an RBI.
Conner Smith added two hits, and Maestas scored a run while stealing a base.
The two teams will close out the series tomorrow at Noon.
