Chico State Athletics

Chico State southpaw Sheldon Lechuga saved one game and collected the win in another as the Wildcats split a four-game series at Cal State Dominguez Hills over the weekend. Lechuga, now 2-0 on the season with four saves, allowed just one hit in four-and-two-thirds innings while striking out seven to earn Wildcat of the Week honors.

The senior from Orcutt (Allan Hancock CC) entered the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader with a runner on second and one down. He immediately struck out returning All-American Abel Medina and then picked off Kevin Pillar sneaking off second base to get out of the inning. He allowed a two-out double in the ninth but got a ground ball to end the game.

In Sunday’s series finale, Lechuga came on to start the seventh inning in a 2-2 tie. He went the final three frames without allowing a hit while striking out five. The one runner that did reach was Pillar on an error leading off the eighth. But Lechuga picked him off again, this time as he broke early for second base attempting to get into scoring position after the Wildcats had taken a 3-2 lead in the top half of the inning.. He struck out the side in the ninth to nail down the win.

Lechuga and the Wildcats will be back in action Tuesday when they host San Francisco State for a doubleheader beginning at 2 PM.