Kayla McConnell, the lone senior on the Chico State softball team, is approaching the end of her Wildcat career – but based on her performance against Sonoma State, McConnell is saving her best for last. The righthander was brilliant in the pitcher’s circle over the weekend, tossing a pair of complete games to help the ’Cats sweep a four-game series versus the 16th-ranked Seawolves and put Chico State back in the middle of the postseason softball picture. Her outstanding efforts make McConnell the latest Wildcat of the Week.
McConnell allowed just one run and nine hits in 15 innings of work against one of the best hitting teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) en route to her two victories. In the opener of Friday’s series-opening doubleheader, McConnell twirled a three-hit shutout and struck out four as the Wildcats posted a 7-0 win.
McConnell was just as effective Saturday, going the distance in a tight eight inning contest, striking out four and allowing just a run on six hits in Chico State’s 2-1 victory over the Seawolves. McConnell finished the game with a flourish – with the potential tying run in scoring position, she struck out Sonoma State’s Holli Brown for the final out.
With her two weekend wins, McConnell raised her season record to 7-10 and is currently ranked seventh in the CCAA with a 2.30 earned run average.
Chico State wraps up the regular season this weekend with a four-game series versus UC San Diego at University Softball Field. Two Wildcat wins will clinch a berth in the upcoming CCAA Championship Tournament.
