SANTA BARBARA >> Walt White has talked about beating down the door to take that final step. The barriers in Cal State Monterey Bay’s path are part of the journey.

Sometimes the road is unorthodox. Yet, the bottom line is the Otters baseball season is still alive, advancing to the NCAA Division II Super Regionals for the third straight season Saturday — tying a school record for wins in the process.

Needing to win two games Saturday to extend its season, CSUMB looked like a program that’s been in this position before, securing a 6-2 win to force a second game, then sending Westmont home with a 6-4 decision in the title game.

“We are not done kicking that door,” said White, the Otters head coach, whose program came within an out of reaching the Division II College World Series last spring.

The celebrations never get old, as for the third time in three weeks, the Otters charged the mound and bounced toward the outfield to add another plaque to their resume, with White and his coaching staff embracing the moment, improving to 39-17.

“This never gets old,” said CSUMB pitcher Mitchell Torres, who threw a gem in the first game. “Each celebration is sweeter than the last. We keep proving to ourselves who we know we are.”

The Otters are likely ticketed to Nampa, Idaho for the Super Regionals to face the No. 13th ranked team in the nation in Division II in Northwest Nazarene, which defeated Point Loma 3-2 to win the other regional tournament and improve to 40-17.

“We played them last year in our regional and beat them,” White said. “They got a couple of kids in the transfer portal that created depth for their team. The biggest difference between us is the schedules we play. We feel we’re battle-tested.”

The Otters, who fell to Westmont on Friday in the double-elimination tournament, were in this position this time last year, needing to win two games to extend their season.

“We’ve been in this situation two years in a row, 365 days apart,” CSUMB first baseman Cole Murchison said. “The outcome was not what we wanted on Friday. For a lot of us, it’s our last collegiate run. Play with confidence. Don’t let the moment get too big.”

Murchison is one of 28 seniors on a CSUMB roster that has been through the postseason wars the last three years, having reached the Super Regionals for the third straight year.

“We believed we were going to play 18 innings today,” said Murchison, who ripped a pair of homers in the first game. “It felt like just another day. For the last two months, all these games have been playoff-type games. I’m so proud of the guys.”

Murchison, who was the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament conference Most Valuable Player after going 8-for-11 at the plate last week, continued his torrid hitting with five hits in the two games Saturday.

“Toward the end of the year, I was going through a rough patch,” Murchision said. “I was pressing and trying to do too much. When you slow yourself down, you see the ball better. I’m just trying to put a good barrel on the ball. Hitting is contagious.”

Coming on the heels of his two-homer, four RBI effort in the first game, Murchison’s two-run single in the first inning of the second game highlighted a three-run first inning for the Otters.

When CCAA Most Valuable Player KW Quilici ripped his team-leading 13th homer — a two-run shot in the sixth inning — the Otters opened up a 6-3 cushion. Quilici’s two-hit effort raised his average to .401.

White then turned the ball over to Thursday’s starter Nate Rohlicek on just two days rest to shut the door on the Warriors in the final frame, with the senior tossing a shutout inning for the save.

“It’s something we prepared for,” White said. “He’s a guy that can typically bounce back. He told me before the game started that he felt good. When he was warming up in the bullpen, his stuff looked electric. You save these moments for special occasions.”

Earlier in the game, White inserted Drew Aguiar, who closed the game on Thursday, and his 96 mph fastball for 3.1 innings, with the right-hander striking out four, allowing just one run.

“He’s a stud,” White said. “I couldn’t be more proud of that kid. Drew’s been through so much these last few years. He’s put a lot into taking care of himself. Down the stretch, he really figured it out. Our bullpen is the strength of our team.”

Having fallen to top-seed Westmont on Friday in a best-of-three series, the Otters witnessed Torres throw seven shutout innings in the opener and reaped the rewards of a hot-hitting Murchison to force a third and final game.

Torres sailed through seven innings, allowing just three hits against the nation’s No. 12-ranked team, while striking out eight before turning the ball over to former Monte Vista standout Aiden Lee to finish it.

“I wanted to be fearless,” Torres said. “This could have been my last college start. I wanted to leave it all on the field. My teammates were behind me. I felt that energy in the dugout. I was mixing my pitches well and trying to keep them on their toes.”

Torres and Rohlicek have been the aces on the Otters staff, each making 13 starts this spring, with Torres improving to 6-1 on the season. Rholicek has made two relief appearances, earning saves in both outings.

Champions of the PacWest Conference at 43-14, Westmont moved to Division II two years ago after winning the 2023 NAIA College World Series.

“We knew what we came here to do,” Torres said. “We were playing 18 innings today. This is Monterey. We’re a powerhouse in the country.”