Chico State Athletics

For three years, Jessica McDermott has logged some solid innings in the pitcher’s circle for the Chico State softball team. Last season, the righthander tossed nine consecutive complete games and didn’t allow an earned run for 48 straight innings. But in 2011, with the Wildcats needing some positive momentum heading into postseason play, the San Diego native delivered arguably two of the most clutch starts of her Chico State career over the weekend against Cal State Monterey Bay. McDermott racked up both victories in the ’Cats doubleheader split with the Otters, allowed just one run and six hits while striking out 12 in a combined 14 innings of work, with Monterey Bay hitting just .125 against her. McDermott’s efforts make her the winner of the Wildcat of the Week award.

McDermott started and won game two of Friday’s doubleheader, allowing one hit and one run in four innings as Chico State beat Monterey Bay 11-1 in an eight-run rule shortened contest. Saturday, McDermott tossed a complete game gem, scattering five hits and striking out eight in 10 shutout innings in a 1-0 Wildcats victory. She worked out of numerous jams in the nightcap, including two innings when the Otters placed a runner at third base with nobody out, as well as two bases-loaded situations – each time, she survived without surrendering up a run.

With the weekend wins, McDermott is now 8-5 on the season and is sixth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 2.39 earned run average. Her 30 career victories puts her in a tie for fifth place on Chico State’s all-time wins list, and she ranks fourth among the Wildcats’ career strikeout leaders with 317.