Box Scores:
CSUMB 5, #6 Sonoma State 3
CSUMB 4, #6 Sonoma State 3 (13 inn.)
CSUMB 2, #6 Sonoma State 1
SEASIDE, Calif- It took eight and a half hours and 27 innings to complete Friday's suspended game and Saturday's scheduled doubleheader, but when the dust settled, it was Cal State Monterey Bay that emerged with three nailbiting victories over No. 6 Sonoma State in Seaside on Saturday. The Seawolves have now lost four straight, falling to 14-6 overall and 9-6 in the CCAA. The Otters, who won eight games all of last season, are 8-7 in conference play (11-12 overall).
Play was stopped in the fourth inning of Friday's game between the Seawolves and Otters, with CSUMB leading 2-0. Sonoma State took a 3-2 lead when play resumed on Saturday, but Cal State Monterey Bay came right back to win 5-3.
In game two of the four-game series, the two teams endured a 13-inning marathon; however, the Otters squeaked out a 4-3 victory in the bottom of the 13th before earning a 2-1 win in game three.
Cal State Monterey Bay 5, #6 Sonoma State 3
In the opening game of the series, which started on Friday afternoon, the Otters would score two runs in the bottom of the third on a couple of RBI singles to lead 2-0. Just as the third inning came to a close, the clouds opened up and unleashed a downpour of rain, causing the game to be suspended.
As play resumed on Saturday morning, Sonoma State got three runs back in the top of the fifth on a RBI groundout by
Randy Wells and a two-run home run by
Kyle Cerrudo to take a 3-2 lead. The Otters knotted the game at 3-3 in the seventh on a RBI single, before taking the lead in the eighth on a RBI single and a RBI double.
Sonoma State threatened for some runs in the top half of the ninth inning, putting runners on the corners with just one out, but Paul Brock struck out
Scott Collins and forced
Steven Filippi to groundout to end the game, earning his third save of the season.
O'Koyea Dickson and
Alex Todd went 3 for 5 in the game with a run scored.
Thomas Lee started the game for Sonoma State, tossing the first three innings on Friday before having to be replaced on Saturday. He gave up the first two runs, walked three and struck out one.
Ian Ocon (1-2) came on in relief on Saturday, giving up seven hits and three runs in 4.1 innings pitched.
Joey Van Cleave worked the final two outs of the game, allowing two hits.
Cal State Monterey Bay 4, #6 Sonoma State 3 (13 innings)
After four scoreless innings, the Seawolves finally broke through with three runs in the fifth -- a RBI groundout by Todd, a RBI single by Dickson and a RBI double by
Kyle Jones. However, the Otters would score a run in the fifth, sixth and in the ninth to tie the game at 3-3, which sent the game to extra innings.
It wasn't until the 12th inning that either team got a hit. Sonoma State got runners on first and second with no outs on singles by Jones and Cerrudo, but CSUMB's Jake Paolinetti got out of the jam, forcing a double play and a groundout to end the Seawolf threat.
Still, neither team could get anything going, but Cal State Monterey Bay finally threatened with two one out singles, putting runners on the corners. After a stolen base, SSU's
Phil Liniger intentionally walked Tony Hernandez, allowing Nelson to bring home the game-winning run on a single to center field.
Liniger (0-1) suffered his first loss of the season after tossing the final 1.1 innings. It overshadowed the eight innings of work by starter
Kenny Arnerich, who allowed eight hits and two runs, while striking out eight.
Brian Bordagaray came on in relief to pitch four innings, giving up just one hit and one run. He walked three and struckout four. Offensively,
Justin Serrao led Sonoma State with three hits and Jones added two with a RBI.
Cal State Monterey Bay 2, #6 Sonoma State 1
It took five and a half innings before either team scored in game three, but the Otters finally drew first blood in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI double and a RBI sacrifice fly, giving CSUMB the 2-0 lead with just three outs left.
Facing their third loss of the day, the Seawolves were determined to put some runs on the board to at least tie the game at 2-2. With one out, Dickson singled then stole second. He later scored on a RBI single by Wells. However,
Max Kirk came on to run for Wells at first base with two outs, but was caught stealing to end the game.
Sonoma State managed just three hits in the third game of the day, one apiece by Todd, Wells and Cerrao.
Kendall Davis (0-2) was tagged with the loss as he went the distance, giving up nine hits and two runs -- he struck out two.
For Cal State Monterey Bay, Aaron Appino (2-4) got the victory, giving up just the three hits and one unearned run while striking out eight. Nelson, Jared DeCastro and Tommy George had two hits each for the Otters.
Sonoma State will look to salvage at least a game in the series finale with Cal State Monterey Bay, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday in Seaside.
