ROHNERT PARK, Calif- Simone Brandalise picked a great time to get her first hit of the day. Sonoma State tied the ballgame up at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh and an inning later, Brandalise blasted a walk off solo home run over the left center field fence, sending the Seawolves into a frenzied celebration at home plate after the 3-2 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. The win salvaged the split between the two squads as the Otters squeaked out a 1-0 victory in the opening game. Both teams remain tied in first place atop the CCAA standings at 11-3.

Saturday featured some of the best pitching performances this season to date, as Cal State Monterey Bay's Diane Ortiz and Sonoma State's Julianne Martinez had a battle for the ages. Ortiz went the distance for the Otters, scattering just four hits, walking two, striking out three while keeping the Seawolves off the scoreboard. Martinez (7-3), on the other hand, fell on the losing end of the contest, despite giving up just three hits and one run while striking out six. The run Martinez gave up was the result of a fielding error early in the third inning that ended up coming around to score, which was unearned.

Not much happened offensively for either team, CSUMB's Shea Olds and SSU's LeeAnn Stroud had two hits for their respective teams.

Game two was much of the same, and had an almost identical start as Cal State Monterey Bay struck first in their half of the third inning. Both runs scored were the result of a couple of errors, giving the Otters a 2-0 lead.

Sonoma State got a run back in the fourth when Rochelle Vanyi wrapped a ball just inside the foul pole down the left field line to close the Otter lead to just 2-1. The score held until the bottom of the seventh inning when Stroud reached base after the ball trickled through shortstop Niki Ames' legs, allowing Skylynn Myers to even up the score at two. With runners on second and third with just one out, Ortiz, who relieved Lisa Hernandez just one batter earlier, forced Ashley Britton to line into a double play that would end the Seawolf threat and send the game into extra innings.

Samantha Lipperd continued to control the ballgame from within the pitcher's circle, shutting down the Otters in the top half of the eighth. That's when Brandalise stepped in. On a 2-2 count, she sent a ball deep to left center field, clearing the fence to give the Seawolves the 3-2 win in walk-off fashion. It was her first hit in seven at bats on the day.

Arnold and Myers had two hits in the nightcap. Lipperd (9-1) went the distance, scattering just five hits, giving up two runs -- all unearned -- while walking two and striking out seven.

Sonoma State and 18th-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay will wrap up a crucial four-game series on Sunday afternoon at the Seawolf Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.

Box Scores
#18 Cal State Monterey Bay 1, Sonoma State 0
Sonoma State 3, #18 Cal State Monterey Bay 2 (8 innings)