March 5, 2011
SEASIDE, Calif.- The Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team faced-off with Chico State for games two and three of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) contest, Saturday at the Otter Baseball Field. The Otters dropped the morning opener, 6-2 and were victorious in the nightcap, 4-2.
Junior outfielder #Jared DeCastro# hit for a combined 3-for-6 on the day with two runs scored, a double, and a stolen base.
The two teams will square off for the conclusion of the CCAA series, Sunday March 6 at the Otter Baseball Field starting at 11 a.m.
Game 1: CHICO 6, CSUMB 2
In the top of the first Chico senior third baseman Adrian Bringas had a stand up double off the right center field fence to get the Wildcats off to a promising start. Otter catcher #Jace Fanner# had a heads up defensive play to tag Bringas out at home to ensure the shut out inning.
The Otters stayed strong as they continued to play great defense. Junior second baseman #Danny Nelson# turned the double play to rid the bases of any Wildcat base runners. Crose continued his strong presence on the mound as a hard hit ball was hit right back at him to end the inning.
The Otters got a rally going in the bottom of the fourth, starting with DeCastro, with a single to third. Junior designated hitter #Chris Lopiccolo# blasted a stand-up, RBI double off the right center fence to bring around DeCastro for the first CSUMB run of the day.
As the sixth inning started, Junior Cody Foster roped a double to right center to get things started for the Wildcats. With the sacrifice bunt, the ball was thrown wide and the runner came around to score as Chico found their second runner of the inning on base. The Otters committed two errors in the inning that combined to help the Wildcats gain their two run lead making the score 3-1. All runs in the sixth were unearned for the Wildcats.
The seventh was much like the sixth for the Wildcats. Chico strung together a hit-by-pitch, two hits to add another three runs to make the score 6-1 at the end of the top of the seventh.
Lopiccolo single handily added a run for CSUMB in the bottom of the seventh when he blasted a shot into the trees just over the scoreboard in left field.
Throughout the game Lopiccolo was strong at the plate for the Otters, going 2-for-4 with a homerun, and two RBI.
Chico gained a runner off of an Otter error to start off the nightcap. The Wildcat found his way to third as Bringas had a long single to left field. With a walk, the based were loaded. McKay doubled down the right field line for two RBI. Both runs were unearned for Chico.
CSUMB got a break in the third with no outs in the bottom of the third, when a Wildcat error was committed. Sophomore #Alex Mangubat# advanced to third on sophomore #Nolan Murray#'s hard hit single up the middle. The Otters could not capitalize on the Wildcat error and left two stranded.
The bottom of the sixth inning, CSUMB tallied up four runs to surpass the Wildcats by two runs. The Otters got started off with a single to center off the bat of senior #Greg Fujii#. Nelson hit a shot down the left field line for a double. Lopiccolo drew the walk to load the bases. DeCastro had the second hard hit ball down the left field line of the inning for two RBI. With a hit to third, sophomore #Tyler Young# brought Lopiccolo across for the RBI. Mangubat singled to right field to keep the Otter rally going with no outs. With the sacrifice executed, the runners each moved ninety feet closer to home. Make the total damage of the inning, four runs on five hits for the Otters.
CSUMB went out in the top of the seventh and held down the Wildcats to capture the win.
Junior right handed pitcher
Paul Brock had a strong outing as he completed game two for the Otters. Nelson went 2-for-3, both doubles and one run scored. Young was also strong at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one RBI.
