Chico State shortstop Michael Murphy rewarded Head Coach Dave Taylor for inserting him into the leadoff spot in the Wildcats’ road series against Cal State L.A. last weekend. Murphy, who had batted second most of the year, hit a blistering .533 leading off, posted a .619 on-base percentage, scored eight runs and extended his hitting streak to 12 games as Chico State took three out of four from the Golden Eagles. The senior from Templeton put up the numbers necessary to nab Wildcat of the Week honors.
In the Wildcats’ 5-3 win on Friday, Murphy went 1-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice He doubled and scored in the first inning and knocked in the game-winning RBI in the fourth with a sacrifice fly. Saturday’s doubleheader saw Murphy go 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in an 11-3 game one loss; in the nightcap, he went 2-for-3 with a home run, scored three times, and knocked in a run in the Wildcats’ 9-6 victory. Murphy led off the game with a homer, singled in the second, was hit by a pitch and scored a run in the fourth and scored again in the sixth. Murphy capped his strong weekend by reaching base five times Sunday in the Wildcats’ 14-8 win. He walked and scored in the first, had a base hit in the second, singled and scored in the fourth, was hit by a pitch in the fifth, and singled and scored in the seventh.
Murphy is hitting .413 during his hitting streak to raise his season average to a team-high .401 – seventh best in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). He’s also tied for the Chico State lead with 21 extra-base hits for a slugging percentage of .620 and boasts the second best on-base percentage on the Wildcats at .476.
Chico State hosts Cal State Dominguez Hills this Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a four-game series at Nettleton Stadium.
