SEASIDE, Calif. — Stan State closed out the 2026 regular season with a 12–2 victory over No. 17 Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday afternoon at the Otter Sports Complex, earning a split of the four-game CCAA series.
The Warriors finish the season 22–26 overall and 13–18 in CCAA play, recording their fourth conference series split of the season while also claiming a series win over Cal Poly Pomona. The Otters move to 36–14 overall and 21–11 in conference action.
Cal State Monterey Bay took an early 2–0 lead with runs in the second and third innings, but Stan State flipped the game late behind a dominant offensive surge.
Stan State broke through in the sixth inning. Chris Ortiz doubled to start the frame, and Austin Sargent followed with an RBI double to put the Warriors on the board. Tyler Crudo then delivered a two-run double to give Stan State its first lead at 3–2.
The Warriors added to their lead in the seventh. Jacob Reyes singled and later scored, while a sacrifice fly by Crudo made it 5–2.
Stan State broke the game open in the eighth inning, plating five runs. Arthur Navarette Jr. doubled to start the rally, Reyes drove in a run, and Ortiz delivered the big blow with a three-run home run to extend the lead to 9–2. The Warriors added another run in the inning to make it 10–2.
Stan State capped the scoring in the ninth, as Eric Perez delivered a two-run double to push the final margin to 12–2.
The Warriors finished with 15 hits in the contest. Navarette Jr. led the way with three hits, while Ortiz went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. Reyes scored three runs, and Sargent and Crudo each drove in multiple runs.
Austin Balentine (8–4) earned the win in his final start of the season, tossing 7.0 innings and allowing two runs while striking out five. Cameron Rosen added a scoreless eighth inning, and Herman Luna closed out the ninth.
Warrior Notables
- Austin Balentine finished the season 8–4 and is now tied for second in single-season wins in program history in an eight-way tie that includes current Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan.
- Balentine also finished tied for fifth in program history with 23 career wins alongside Louie Souza (1979–80) and eighth with 182 career strikeouts.
- Chris Ortiz hit his seventh home run of the season, a three-run shot in the eighth inning.
- Arthur Navarette Jr. recorded three hits in the finale.
- Jacob Reyes scored three runs in the win.
- Tyler Crudo and Austin Sargent each recorded multiple RBI.
- Stan State recorded 12 runs on 15 hits, its highest offensive output of the series.
- The Warriors earned their fourth CCAA series split of the season and a series win over Cal Poly Pomona.
