California State University, Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) baseball team kicked off their first home game of the season Friday evening against Biola University (BU) with a victory at 5-4.
The Otters started the night off strong with pitcher Levi Noddin (#33) and catcher Sam Nastari (#28) getting an early strikeout against Biola’s Matthew Nyce (#25). Biola responded with Tyler Baca (#7) hitting a single up the middle and stealing second base, and later advanced to third off a throwing error made by the Otters. Next up was the Eagles’ Ryan Greenlee (#18), who walked to first, allowing Tyler Baca (#7) to run home and score for Biola.
The rest of the game continued with a tug of war between the Otters and the Eagles as the two teams each took their turn at-bat. At the bottom of the 5th inning, CSUMB and BU were tied with two runs apiece.
The next scoring opportunity came in the top of the 7th inning when the Eagles’ Oscar Serratos (#5) hit a triple to right-center, which allowed Baca and Brandon Thomas (#34), who was on first and second base respectively to run home and score for BU. This left the score at 4-2, with Biola in the lead.
The Otters weren’t done for the evening yet, however. CSUMB’s PJ Kissee (#37) walked to first base in the bottom of the 8th inning. Shortly after, Kyle Guerra (#7) hit a single to left field, allowing Kissee to advance to second base. CSUMB’s Jason Ajamian (#27) grounded out to the second base, allowing Kissee to advance to third base and Guerra to advance to second base.
With the bases loaded, Chris Rubottom (#22) hit a single to right-center, which gave Kisse and Guerra the chance to make it safely to home base. Rubottom made it to second base off a wild pitch. CSUMB Sergio Solis (#26) advanced on a fielding error and Rubottom scored the final point for CSUMB, leaving the final score at 5-4, with the Otters taking home the win.