Chico State Athletics

With only five returners on its roster, the Chico State softball team is counting on several of its 10 new players to make big contributions in 2013. Based on her performance during the season-opening Mizuno Best of the West Invitational, first baseman Desiree’ Gonzalez is the first to emerge as one of the ’Cats’ exciting new talents. The freshman from Fontana belted two home runs and anchored the heart of the Chico State lineup during the weekend tournament – and is the recipient of the latest Wildcat of the Week award. 

In Chico State’s five games at the Best of the West Invitational, Gonzalez batted .467 with three extra base hits, six RBI and a .933 slugging percentage while playing flawlessly on defense. She finished the tournament with a four-game hitting streak as the ’Cats rebounded from three Saturday losses to win two straight on Sunday. For her efforts, Gonzalez was the lone Wildcat named to the Best of the West’s all-tournament team.

Batting fourth in the order, Gonzalez delivered back-to-back two hit games Saturday against Cal State Stanislaus and San Francisco State. But her biggest game came Sunday against Holy Names, where she slugged two homers and knocked in four runs in the Wildcats’ 16-4 pasting of the Hawks. Later in the day, Gonzalez contributed an RBI single to Chico State’s 7-2 win over Dominican.

The Wildcats return to action Feb. 15-16, opening up California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play on the road against defending conference co-champion Cal State Dominguez Hills.