ROHNERT PARK, Calif- Down 14-3 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, Sonoma State rallied for 10 unanswered runs with just five hits in the final two frames, but the Seawolves couldn't complete the furious comeback attempt in falling 14-13 to Cal State Monterey Bay on Sunday afternoon at Seawolf Diamond. Sonoma State falls to 12-15 overall and 5-11 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play. The Otters, meanwhile, won just their second game in conference play, improving to 2-18 in the CCAA and 6-23 overall.

Desperately looking for a win to avoid the four-game sweep, the Otters got onto the scoreboard first, scoring two runs in the top of the second. The Seawolves cut the lead in half at 2-1 with a score in the bottom half of the third, but Cal State Monterey Bay's starter Scott Tully pitched a gem for five complete innings to hold the Seawolves at bay. He allowed just two hits, one run, two walks while striking out eight.

Jacob Crose, who relieved Tully in the sixth, allowed a double to Max Shupe, but that would be all Sonoma State could get off of the two pitchers through six complete innings -- just three hits and the aforementioned run.

Meanwhile, the Otters found their offensive stride, adding to their 2-1 lead but scoring three runs in the fourth, one in the sixth and four in the seventh to take a comfortable 10-1 lead. Sonoma State got two runs back in the bottom half of the seventh, but the seven-run deficit wouldn't last long as Cal State Monterey Bay added four more runs in the eighth to take a 11-run lead (14-3) with just six outs remaining for SSU.

The Seawolves refused to lose, at least by 11 runs. Ryan Morales knocked in Austin Hogans and Ryan Stevens on a two-RBI double to the left field corner to put the score at 14-5. Kyle Jones then grounded out, but scored Joey Parigi from third on the play, making the count 14-6. Bobby Cozine came up big, doubling down the right field line, bringing home Morales for the 14-7 score.

Enter Jayson Richards. He retired three straight Otter batters in the top of the ninth, giving Sonoma State the shot at completing the daunting task of finding the victory after being down 11 runs.

Down seven runs with just three outs remaining, Randy Wells smashed a solo shot over the left center field fence to lead off the inning. Two straight walks to Stevens and Hogans allowed Parigi to bring home Stevens on a single to right field. Morales scored Hogans on a groundout after Hogans and Parigi advanced a base after a wild pitch. Steven Filippi pinch hit and hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Parigi.

With two outs, Sonoma State trailed 14-11. Two batters later, Cozine sent a deep fly ball to left center that cleared the outfield fence, sending the Seawolf faithful into belief that a win by Sonoma State was in the very near future, down just 14-13. Following ht meltdown of Cal State Monterey Bay pitcher Gavin Kinoshita, who gave up eight runs in just one and two thirds innings, in comes Sean Barber.

Barber walked the first batter he faced in Shupe, bringing to the plate the man who started the inning with a solo home run. However, Wells struck out on a 2-2 count, ending the comeback attempt by the Seawolves. Barber earned his first save of the season while CSUMB starter Tully (2-3) got the victory.

Sonoma State managed just nine hits in the ballgame -- Cozine and Erik Hansen led the way with two each. Jones, Cozine and Morales had three RBI apiece.

Mark Lincoln (1-1) got the loss for the Seawolves after tossing three and two thirds innings, giving up four hits, three runs, one walk and three strikeouts.

Sonoma State will step out of conference play on Tuesday to host San Francisco State at 2 p.m. before hosting Cal State East Bay on Saturday for a doubleheader.

Box Score: Cal State Monterey Bay 14, Sonoma State 13