SEASIDE, Calif. -- Opening day of the 2015 Cal State Monterey Bay Baseball season brought Azusa Pacific University to the Otter Sports Complex on Thursday for doubleheader action. Behind seven scoreless innings from freshman pitcher Greg Steinbeck (Hollister/San Benito HS), the Otters were able to get their first win out of the way by a score of 12–3., However, relief pitching would be CSUMB's downfall in game two as the Cougars came from behind in the seventh inning to win 3–2 in the night cap.

GAME 1 | CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 12, AZUSA PACIFIC 3 -- BOX SCORE
Azusa Pacific got off to fast start against CSUMB starting pitcher Cody Gappa (Corning/Red Bluff HS) scoring three runs in the first two innings. However, that would be all for the Cougars as Steinbeck (1–0) and the Otter offense was firing on all cylinders. For seven innings Steinbeck was dominate on the mound, allowing three hits and striking out five in seven innings of work.,

The pitching dominance paved the way for the bats to erupt. The Otters smacked 14 hits, plating 12 runs, six of which came in the eighth inning, forcing APU to run through eight pitchers. Only two Cougar pitchers threw for more than one innings, one being starter Josh Staumont who was ailed by five walks over four innings of work.,

Three Otters contributed three hits in the game, including Matt Urakami (San Jose/Branham HS) who went 3–for–3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Justin Flores (Fresno/Clovis West HS) and Ty Morris (Royal Oaks/North County HS) each had two hits in the game and pitched in one and two RBIs, respectively. Josh Heinz (Santa Clarita/West Ranch HS) Came around to score three times in addition to his three–hit game.

For the Cougars, Luis Martinez took the loss after surrendering two runs in the fifth innings to break a 3–3 tie. Offensively Mitch Dergazarian and Jordan Brower each had two hits while Brower and Joe Huthsing collected one RBI apiece.

GAME 2 | AZUSA PACIFIC 3, CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 2 -- BOX SCORE
The second game of the day saw Azusa Pacific get on the board early in the game on a soft hit grounder past the CSUMB pitcher by Adrian Tovalin to score Daniel Martin. However, Otter starter Ryan Boydstun (La Quinta HS) settled in and proceeded to shutout the Cougars through five innings, striking out nine batters.

CSUMB tied the game in the third innings and took the lead in the fifth after Myles Hager (Tarzana/Chaminade HS) pinch ran for Kyle Ferret (Corona/Santiago HS), and moved around the bases via base hit, balk, and then scored on wild pitch, giving the Otters a 2–1 lead.,

After Brett Hammond (Lake Forest/El Toro HS) threw a scoreless sixth inning, Christian Stubbs (Mission Viejo/San Joan Hills HS) came in in the seventh to try and close it out. A lead off single and a slew of pinch hitters for APU ended on a bang–bang single to third base by Martin that scored pinch runner Cam Bennett from third to give the Cougars the 3–2 lead. CSUMB put two runners on in the final frame, but a groundout to shortstop ended any hopes of a comeback.

CSUMB begins the 2015 season with a 1–1 record, while APU moves to 2–1. Cal State Monterey Bay will wrap up the four–game series with Azusa Pacific tomorrow, February 6. First pitch has been moved up an hour to 10 p.m. in hopes to beat the incoming storm.
,

,