CHICO – The Chico State softball team has made great strides this season in revitalizing a program that has struggled the past few years – nearly halfway into the 2010 campaign, the Wildcats are two games above .500 overall and more than holding their own against California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opponents. This weekend should serve as a true test of exactly how far the ’Cats have progressed, as Chico State hosts conference leader Sonoma State in doubleheader action Friday and Saturday at University Softball Field.
The Wildcats enter their four-game series with the Seawolves 11-9 on the season, and occupying seventh place in the CCAA with an 8-8 conference mark. Chico State is in the mix for a CCAA Championship Tournament berth, sitting just one game behind San Francisco State, Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State Dominguez Hills for fourth place in the conference standings. The ’Cats return home after splitting a four-game set in Arcata against Humboldt State Sunday and Monday (coming within six outs of taking three of the four contests), kicking off a stretch that will see Chico State play at least 14 games over the next 15 days.
The ’Cats rank eighth in the CCAA with a .251 team batting average, scoring over three runs and six hits per contest. Charlotte Honciano is Chico State’s top hitter, batting .318 entering the weekend; she also tops the team in hits (21), stolen bases (6) and on-base percentage (.400). Sam Quadt is hitting at a .313 clip and is among the top five in the CCAA with six doubles on the year. Freshman righthander Kacie McCarthy leads the Wildcats’ pitching staff with five wins, six complete games, two shutouts and a 2.64 earned run average.
Sonoma State, ranked 21st in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll, is off to its best start in school history, sporting an 18-5 overall record and 13-3 mark in the CCAA. The Seawolves sit atop the conference standings, with a two game lead over second place Cal State Monterey Bay. Sonoma State, which just two years ago languished in the CCAA cellar, currently leads the conference in nine offensive categories, including batting average (.330), slugging percentage (.529), on base percentage (.399), runs scored (125), runs batted in (118), doubles (39), triples (6), home runs (24), and total bases (327). Junior outfielder LeeAnn Stroud is the CCAA’s top hitter, batting .481, while freshman righthander Samantha Lipperd is one of two pitchers in the conference with 10 wins on the season.
All-time, Sonoma State has won 72 of 121 meetings with Chico State. Last season the Seawolves won four of the six games played against the Wildcats.
Friday’s series-opening doubleheader is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m., with the first game of Saturday’s twinbill getting underway at noon at University Softball Field.
