TURLOCK — Opportunities were aplenty for the Stanislaus State baseball team on a long Sunday. In the end, free bases and the powerful hitting of Cal State Monterey Bay resulted in a twinbill sweep by the Otters.
Cal State Monterey Bay won twice in its last at bats on the day. First the Otters managed to win an 11-inning game, 5-4, with just six hits. Then, in the finale, CSUMB scored three times in the seventh in win 6-3 in the short game.
The Warriors suffered three straight defeats after an impressive 13-2 series opener win and are now 13-11 overall and 9-9 in CCAA play. Stan State is now 5-8 in home games.
Cal State Monterey Bay regained a share of first place in the conference standings by improving to 17-5 overall and 11-5 in league play. Cal State L.A., winner of eight straight, is also 11-5 in CCAA play. The Cal State L.A. Golden Eagles visit Warrior Baseball Field for a four-game set next weekend.
On Sunday the Warriors left a total of 23 runners on base in two games. Cal State Monterey Bay left 25 runners, but the Otters use the long ball to win.
Hayden Duer's solo homer in the 11th turned out to be the game-winner in the first game. Duer also homered in the sixth inning to tie the game at 2-2 at the time. A Jacob Tonascia two-run bomb to deep left-field in the ninth had tie the game at 4-4.
The only run not resulted from a homer was CSUMB's first in the third inning when they were given four straight free passes (two walks, two hit batsmen). In all, Stan State pitching walked eight and hit four batters in game one.
In the nightcap, Warrior pitching walked nine batters. With the score at 3-3 in the seventh, four consecutive walks after two outs allowed the Otters to score the go-ahead run. Then TJ Dove drove in two more runs with a single up the middle to make it 6-3.
The Warrior offense did out-play the top offensive team in the CCAA on the day. Stan State batted .277 with 18 hits. CSUMB was .209 with 14 hits. The Warriors were 6 of 21 (.286) with runners in scoring position. CSUMB was 3 of 23 (.130).
Seven different Warriors had multiple hits during the doubleheader with
Braeden Oki leading the way with three hits including a double.
Duer and Tonascia each had three hits to lead Monterey Bay. Duer had two solo homers and Tonascia drove in four runs on the day.
Dakota Edwards made his first start as a Warrior and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Duer's leadoff homer. Edwards threw six innings and gave up just one hit with six strikeouts, but he walked four and hit four Otters.
