HAYWARD, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay softball team closed the road portion of its 2016 schedule by spliting a doubleheader at Cal State East Bay Wednesday afternoon. The Otters took Game 1 12–0 behind a 2–hitter from freshman Tori Pierucci (San Mateo/Hillsdale HS) before dropping a 4–0 decision in the nightcap.

The Otters needed just five innings to explode for 12 runs and 13 hits in the opener. Freshman Courtney Hennings (Amador Valley HS) hit her team–leading eighth home run of the season while senior Bianca Noriega (Camarillo HS) blasted her third in support of Pierucci, who allowed just two hits and one walk en route to her 11th win and second shutout of the season.

Hennings' solo shot in the second inning gave Pierucci all the support she would need. Nevertheless, the Otters broke the game open with a 6–run fourth inning. An RBI double by Valerie Aguilar (Montebello/ELAC) and a 2–run single by Anneliese Lopez (Ventura/Buena HS) highlighted the outburst.

Noriega's 3–run bomb capped a 5–run fifth inning that brought the game into run–rule territory.

CSUMB bats went quiet in Game 2 as the Otters managed just three hits. Courtney Leyba's leadoff homer in the third inning proved to be the winning run. East Bay tacked on three unearned runs in the fourth innings when a key 2–out error extended the inning.

Marielle Valdez (Atwater/Merced College) went 4-for-4 in the opener for CSUMB's second 4–hit game of the season. Courtney Varela (Torrance HS), who owns CSUMB's other 4–hit game, extended her hitting streak to a team season–high 11 games in Game 1 before going 0-for-4 in the nightcap.

CSUMB returns to the Otter Sports Complex to close its 2016 schedule by hosting Stanislaus State in a 4–game series Friday and Saturday. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 1 p.m. and Saturday's first pitch is set for noon.