CHICO, Calif. -- The Cal State Monterey Bay snapped its minor four–game losing streak on Saturday at Chico State by providing plenty of offense behind lights–out pitching in a 10–0 win in game one of the doubleheader. The Otters followed up the offensive outpouring with a narrow 3–1 win en route to a doubleheader sweep of the Wildcats.
CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 10, CHICO STATE 0Jeff Owen (Clovis East HS) threw his 11th complete game and fifth shutout of his career, but Owen's performance on the mound was not the only aspect working for the Otters in game one of Saturday's twinbill. CSUMB put a 10 spot up on the hosts on 13 hits, featuring two home runs off the Otter bats.
Monterey Bay started right away scoring two runs in the opening frame.
Ty Morris (Royal Oaks, Calif. / North Monterey County HS) drew a leadoff walk and eventually came around to score the first run of the game on a
Justin Flores (Fresno, Calif. / Clovis West HS ) RBI single
. Brian Hamm (Pleasanton, Calif. / Amador Valley HS) knocked in the second run of the inning on a single of his own, giving the Otters a 2–0 lead.
The middle innings featured a pitching duel between Owen and Chico's Brad Lohse as each starter retired as many as eight and 11 batters in a row, respectively. Owen (4–2) was the winning pitcher recording his fourth win of the season after scattering eight hits in the complete game. Lohse was not as fortunate as the Otters chased him out of the game after six and two–thirds innings after striking out nine batters.
The Otter offense broke the silence in the seventh inning erupting for four runs featuring two two–run homers off the bats of Morris and
Myles Hager (Tarzana, Calif / Chaminade College Prep), putting the Otters on top 6–0. CSUMB would not stop there as it plated four more runs in ninth inning to stake a 10–0 lead. The inning began when
Hayden Duer (Davis HS) reached base on throwing error by the Wildcat catcher. After a passed ball allowed Duer to advance to second, the Otters began a string of three singles, a bases–loaded walk, an RBI fielder's choice, and a double ending with a four spot on the scoreboard.
Morris, Flores, Hamm, and Hager all had two RBIs in the win for the Otters. Three different Wildcats had two–hit days at the plate in the loss.
CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 3, CHICO STATE 1The Wildcats took a page out the Otters' book by scoring early on in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1–0 lead. However, CSUMB would come back to figure out Chico's freshman starter Hunter Haworth, taking a 3–1 lead in the fifth inning.
Shawn Wheeler (Citrus Heights, Calif. / Bella Vista HS) began the inning by reaching base on an error. Wheeler eventually came around to score the tying run on the
Josh Heinz (Santa Clarita, Calif. / West Ranch HS) RBI single, beginning a four hit, three run inning late in the game.
After allowing the run in the first inning,
Ryan Boydstun (La Quinta HS) settled in, pitching six strong innings of three hit ball, striking out five Wildcats.
Kory Groves (Citrus Heights, Calif. / Oakmont HS) came in for the save in the seventh inning and secured the win with a 1–2–3 inning. Three different Otters contributed one RBI in the win, while Hager drew two walks.
Monterey Bay reaches the 20 win mark, moving to 20–11, 16–7 CCAA. CSUMB and Chico will finish the series on Sunday with first pitch set for 11 a.m.
Go Otters!
