Chico State Athletics

The Chico State softball team won a trio of exciting one-run games against Cal State Dominguez Hills over the weekend, and when the Wildcats made a move to the bullpen, Mari Takeda Bajan stepped into the pitcher’s circle in each contest and delivered a clutch performance. The sophomore righthander figured in every decision, posting two wins and a save to help lead the ’Cats to a crucial three-game series sweep of the 24th-ranked Toros. Takeda Bajan’s relief efforts make her the latest Wildcat of the Week.
 
In her three appearances, Takeda Bajan allowed just one earned run in a combined eight-and-a-third innings of relief, striking out four and holding the Toros to a .206 batting average, as Chico State improved to 16-15 on the season and 9-9 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play.
 
In Friday’s series opener, the sophomore righthander earned a save by retiring the final two Dominguez Hills batters to preserve Chico State’s 5-4 victory. Takeda Bajan was credited with both victories in Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of the Toros, and was particularly effective in the nightcap, tossing six-and-a-third innings of relief and holding the Toros scoreless over the final four frames to help the Wildcats record a 4-3 walk-off win in the 11th inning.
 
Takeda Bajan, who owns a 4-3 won-lost record on the season, currently leads the CCAA with four saves and ranks among the conference’s top 20 hurlers in earned run average (2.77) and opponent batting average (.252).
 
Takeda Bajan and the Wildcats are in Rohnert Park this Saturday for a four-game series against CCAA-leading Sonoma State.