BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 LOS ANGELES – Solid pitching, strong offense and even better defense granted Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team a doubleheader sweep (5-2, 9-1) over Cal State L.A. Saturday at Reeder Field.
 
The Otters (13-5, 8-3 CCAA) take a 2-1 lead in the four-game series at CSULA (10-8, 8-3 CCAA) with the finale schedule for 11 a.m. Sunday, March 3.
 
After Friday's struggle on offense, CSUMB out-hit the Golden Eagles 20-8 in the twinbill.  Senior Jason Merjano (San Ramon, Calif./Sierra College) went 5-for-7 with two runs.
 
GAME 1: CSUMB 5, CSULA 2
 
A three-run eighth inning clinched the deal for the Otters as starter Will Anderson (Pleasanton, Calif./Fresno State) (3-2) cruised to his first complete game outing. He struck out six and walked two while giving up only five hits, all singles.
 
In the second inning, senior David Garcia (Gilroy, Calif./Misson College) went yard for his third home run of the year.
 
After the Golden Eagles evened it in the third, the Otters scored on a fielder's choice by Cannon Bernarding (San Jose, Calif./West Velley) in the sixth inning. 
 
CSUMB pulled away in the eighth, scoring three runs on three hits and CSULA error.
 
Merjano was perfect at the plate with three hits. Garcia and junior Mark Hurley (Hollister, Calif./College of San Mateo) scored two runs each.
 
CSULA's Omar Jimenez (0-2) took the loss after six innings of action
 
GAME 2: CSUMB 9, CSULA 1
 
Sophomore Jeff Owen (Clovis, Calif./Clovis East) earned his fourth win of 2013 behind a 2-hit six-inning performance. Senior Jonas Noack (San Diego, Calif./UOP) came in the seventh with the bases loaded and forced two pop-up before earning a strikeout to clinch a CSUMB sweep.
 
CSULA's Brandon Quintero and Owen were locked in a pitcher's duel through five innings. Cal State L.A. took a 1-0 lead in the third on a RBI triple by Scott Masik.
 
The Otters answered with a run in the fourth on Garcia's RBI single to left field.
 
CSUMB's offense came alive as Merjano and senior Victor Rasor-Thompson (San Diego, Calif./Univ. of San Diego) opened the sixth inning with back-to-back singles. Senior Brian Haggett (Hollister, Calif./West Valley College) plated Merjano with a double down the right line.  After Rasor-Thompson scored on a wild pitch, George singled to bring Haggett home to give CSUMB a 4-1 advantage.
 
CSUMB broke open the game in the seventh with five runs in the seventh on four hits and three CSULA errors.
 
Haggett went 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs.