The California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) Otters baseball faced off against the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos on Sunday, March 13.
The Otters started the first inning off strong with pitcher Nick Bouillerce (#24) getting three outs in the first five minutes of the game. The Otters carried the momentum into the bottom of the first with Chase Lindemann (#9) hitting a single and making it safely to base. Unfortunately, Lindemann didn’t make it safely to second base when his teammate Brady Miguel (#3) hit a single and made it safely to first.
JJ Engman (#11) was up to bat next for the Otters, he hit a single, allowing Miguel to advance to second. However Engman was out at base, leading the game into the top of the second inning.
Cesar Lopez (#5) started at bat for the Broncos, sending a hit out to infield, however he was out at first base. His teammate Ricky Nuñez (#21) singled out to left field and was able to make it to base. Nick Lugo (#22) was able to advance on fielders choice but Nuñez (#21) was out at second to the Otters shortstop.
AJ Nimeh (#37) singled out to right field and reached first base safely along with his teammate Lugo who made it safely to third. Unfortunately, Tyler Chaffee (#34) grounded out to CSUMB’s pitcher Bouillerce, sending the game into the bottom of the second inning.
Jason Ajamain (#27) started the bottom of the second inning for CSUMB, he hit a single but didn’t make it safely to base. Jacob Martin (#23) was up to bat next with the same result. Chris Rubottom (#22) stepped up to bat next, hit a single, and made it safely to base. Nico Hartojo (#9) came to bat next hoping to continue his teammates momentum, but unfortunately it didn’t last. Hartojo hit a single but it was easily caught by the Broncos right fielder.
Up to bat first for the Broncos at the top of the third was Luke Watson (#14), who hit a single out to right field and was caught by CSUMB’s Kyle Guerra (#7). Jacob Lopez (#31) was up again for the Broncos but was unable to make it safely to base. Johnny Papas (#2) was up next for Cal Poly. Papas hit a double put to center field and made it safely to second base.
With two outs on the board, his teammate Ryon Knowles (#3) stepped up to bat next. After four balls from Otters pitcher Bouillerce, Knowles advanced to first. Lopez was hit by a wild pitch and walked to first base. Knowles advanced to second and Papas advanced to third. With the bases loaded, Nuñez fouled out at first base, sending the game into the bottom of the third inning, with the score still 0-0.
Leading off for CSUMB at the bottom of the third was Guerra. Guerra hit a double out to center field and narrowly made it to first base safely. Broncos pitcher Noel Soto (#24) threw a fastball to Hunter Harris (#13) who bunted it, but did not make it safely to base. Harris allowed his teammate Guerra to make it to third.
Lindemann continued the momentum, hitting a single, which allowed both him and Guerra to advance. Lindemann made it to first and Guerra reached home to score for the Otters. Miguel stepped up to bat next. Lindemann managed to sneak forward and steal second. With Miguel still at bat, Soto pitched his fourth ball which let Miguel advance to first. Ajamain hit out to center field but unfortunately was knocked out, leading into the fourth inning.
Lugo started at bat for the Broncos and after a series of balls thrown by CSUMB’s pitcher Bouillerce, Lugo walked to first base. His teammate Nimeh stepped up to bat next and produced the same result, walking to first base and allowing Lugo to advance to second.
Chaffe stepped up to bat for Cal Poly, and bunted it, but did not make it to first base safely, adding an out to the board. Lopez singled up middle allowing both his teammates Nimeh and Lugo to make it home and score for the Broncos.
Martin stepped up to bat first for the Otters. Martin hit a single out to right field but didn’t make it to base. His teammate Rubottom was up next with the same result. Niko Hartojo (#8) stepped up to bat next, hoping to make base but unfortunately had the same result as Rubottom and Martin. With 3 outs on the board, the game advanced into the fifth inning.
The top of the fifth started with Knowles batting for the Broncos. Knowles hit a double out to right field and made it to base safely, adding pressure on his teammate Cesar Lopez (#5) to not strike out. Lopez didn’t disappoint, hitting out to right field, allowing Knowles to advance to third base, however Lopez was unable to make it to base safely, getting knocked out by Engman.
Nuñez advanced to first off of a defensive error made by the Otters, allowing Knowles to score. Up to bat next for the Broncos was Nimeh. Nimeh hit a single out to left center and made it safely to base along with his teammate Nuñez who claimed third, skipping second base. Chaffee was up next, but was struck out, advancing the game into the bottom of the fifth inning.
The bottom of the fifth started with Guerra at bat for the Otters, who grounded out at second base. He was followed by Harris who was struck out looking. Next up was Lindemann, who unfortunately had his teammates’ luck and was grounded out to the pitcher.
The top of the sixth featured a pitching change for the Otters, with Colby Harrison (#5) replacing Bouillerce on the pitcher’s mound.
The next scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the eighth inning. CSUMB’s Guerra walked to first base after Soto pitched four balls. Cooper Smith (#17) replaced Harris in the batting lineup.
After a pitcher change by the Broncos, with Matt Orozco (#13) replacing Soto, Guerra stole second base. Smith walked to first base after another set of balls were thrown by Orozco. Linemann stepped up to bat next and singled up the middle, advancing to first base. Smith advanced to second and Guerra advanced to third.
With the bases loaded, Miguel reached first base on a fielder’s choice. Lindemann advanced to second and Smith advanced to third. Unfortunately Guerra was out at home base by Pomona’s catcher. Nathan Flores (#12) replaced Engman in the batting lineup and struck out swinging.
Ajamian singled up middle next, while Miguel advanced to third and both Lindemann and Smith scored for the Otters. Martin stepped up to bat next and singled to left center, allowing Ajamian to advance to third and Miguel to score as well.
The Broncos had another pitching change with Scott Armstrong (#18) replacing Matt Orozco on the pitching mound. Rubottom was up to bat next for CSUMB but was out after his hit out to center field was caught.
Papas was up to bat first at the top of the ninth for Cal Poly. He hit a single out towards third base and was able to make it to first base safely. Next up was Knowles, who grounded out but allowed Papas to advance to second. Cesar Lopez (#5) singled out to right field and made it to first base safely. Papas took the opportunity and made it home safely to score for Cal Poly.
Nuñez was up at bat next, and hit a double down the infield line, giving Lopez the chance to score. The Otters had a pitching change after the score, with Christian McInerney (#40) replacing Parker Fokken (#21) on the pitcher’s mound. Lugo went next at bat and hit a single out to right center, advancing to first and allowing Nuñez to advance to third.
Next up was Nimeh, who reached first on a fielder’s choice. Lugo was out at second, but Nuñez (#21) managed to make it home safe. In an attempt to change pace, CSUMB had another pitcher change, Ubaldo Romo (#35) replacing McInerney. Afterwards, Nimeh advanced to second on a passed ball. Chaffee walked to first base and Watson struck out swinging leading the game into the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Otters tried to respond to the late-game scoring by the Broncos but unfortunately were not able to put any more runs on the board. The game ended with 6 runs for Cal Poly Pamona and 5 runs for CSUMB. The Otters next game is against San Francisco State University on March 18. For more information visit otterathletics.com.