Chico State pitcher Alex Molina entered the 2014 softball season knowing the Wildcats would need her to exceed her impressive 13-8, 2.54 ERA output of a year ago. The senior from Atwater more than lived up to expectations at the season-opening Best of the West Invitational in Turlock, tossing a pair of complete games, recording a shutout and posting the 'Cats first win of the 2014 campaign. Her mastery in the pitcher's circle makes Molina the latest Wildcat of the Week.
Molina appeared in three of Chico State's five tournament games over the weekend, allowing just one earned run and striking out 17 in 16.2 innings of work. She was the lone Wildcat to be named to the Best of the West Invitational All-Tournament team.
Saturday Molina went the distance against Cal State Monterey Bay, giving up just one earned run on six hits while striking out a half-dozen, but was saddled with the hard-luck loss as the Otters prevailed, 2-1. Later in the day Molina appeared against San Francisco State, fanning three in 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Molina twirled a gem in her second Best of the West start Sunday against Dominican, shutting out the Penguins on only four hits whilestriking out eight as Chico State went on to win 3-0 and notch its first win of 2014. Molina also contributed to the 'Cat attack at the plate, reaching base on a single and walk while laying down a pair of sacrifice bunts.
Sunday's whitewash of Dominican was the third shutout and 19th complete game of Molina's Chico State career. She has also racked up 105 strikeouts since joining the Wildcats last season.
Molina and the Chico State softball team return to action Feb. 14-15, opening California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play in La Jolla against UC San Diego.
