LOS ANGELES, Calif. - A back-and-forth offensive shootout saw Chico State come up just short Thursday afternoon, as the Wildcats dropped a 12–9 decision to top-seeded Cal State Monterey Bay in the opening round of the double-elimination bracket at the CCAA Baseball Championship at Reeder Field.

The Wildcats will now play in a win-or-go-home matchup tonight at 7 p.m. against No. 2 Cal State Dominguez Hills, which fell 11-8 to No. 3 San Francisco State following the Chico State's game against Cal State Monterey Bay.

Despite pounding out 14 hits and scoring in five different innings, Chico State (30–21) couldn't overcome a series of defensive miscues and a relentless Otters offense that scored in six of eight frames.

Senior Carson Case led the Wildcats with a 3-for-4 performance, including a solo home run in the ninth and two runs scored. Ernie Arambula drove in a team-high three runs with a double and a pair of RBI singles. Thade Miller and Daniel Vierra added two hits and an RBI apiece, while Phoenix Casias and Casey Vogan each contributed multi-hit efforts.

Chico State rallied multiple times, including a three-run fifth that tied the game 5–5, and a three-run eighth to trim what had been a six-run deficit. But Monterey Bay responded with three more runs in the bottom half of the eighth, sealing the Wildcats' fate.

Starter Evan Tomlinson was tagged for seven hits and three runs over three innings, while five Chico State pitchers combined to allow 15 hits and issue seven walks. Ryan Silvers, the fifth reliever used, surrendered a three-run homer in the eighth after facing just three batters.