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Azusa Pacific University Athletics

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4
Winner CSU Montery Bay CSUMB 6-0
2
Azusa Pacific APU 2-3
Winner
CSU Montery Bay CSUMB
6-0
4
Final
2
Azusa Pacific APU
2-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
CSU Montery Bay CSUMB 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 4 7 4
Azusa Pacific APU 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 0

W: CHUTNEY, Jake (1-0) L: Fairchild, Michael (0-1) S: ZAHARIAS, Steven (2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Stephen Hinkel

Otters Rally in Ninth

AZUSA, Calif. – For eight innings everything looked good for the Cougars. Unfortunately for the home team getting the final three outs proved to be a tough task.

Cal State Monterey Bay rallied for three runs in their final at-bat to claim a 4-2 victory in the first of a four-game set.

It was pitchers dual from the start. Through four innings Cal State Monterey Bay starting pitcher Gabe Katich had only two runners reach base via an error and hit batter. His counterpart Jonny Reid was even more stellar as he struck out four as he went 12-up and 12-down.

The game's first hit came when Tanner Negrette laced a double to left centerfield which scored Troy Baird, who walked in the previous at-bat. The Cougars added to that lead when Michael Franco reached on a fielders choice bunt as Negrette scored after the Sea Otters couldn't convert a tough defensive play at home.

Cal State Monterey Bay tried to cut into their two-run deficit in the sixth inning but despite their first hit of the game as well as a hit-by-pitch, Reid settled-in and stranded the runners. The Sea Otters mounted a threat in seventh inning as Hayden Duer hit a one-out solo homerun to left centerfield which was followed by a Chris Blanton double. Despite allowing one more base runner reliever Dillon Miyashiro got the final two outs of the frame to preserve the lead.

The Sea Otters rallied in the ninth as they put their first four batters on the base paths. The big blow came when Myles Hager hit a double into the left centerfield gap off Cougar closer Michael Fairchild. The first pitch base knock scored Blanton and pitch runner Nick Vigo as the visitors took the lead. A Will Rasado single two batters later increased the Sea Otter cushion to 4-2.

Azusa Pacific was able to bring the game winning run to plate thanks, in part, to defensive ninth inning miscues by the Sea Otters. Despite having an opportunity the Cougars couldn't capitalize.

The final line for Reid was 6.1 innings, six strikeouts, three hits on 95 pitches. Katich left after six innings after seven strikeouts on 77 pitches.

Duer and Blaton each recorded two hits to help pace the Sea Otters offense. All seven of the visitors base knocks came in the final four innings.

Franco and Negrette each had hit and an RBI for the Cougars.

Tomorrow the series continues with a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

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