Chico State Athletics

There was never any doubt that junior catcher Peter Miller would play a larger role for the Chico State baseball team this season. Only in his wildest dreams could he have imagined something like this.
 
The Wildcat of the Week left a lasting mark in Chico State baseball lore this weekend. Miller tallied two walkoff hits and set up a third to key a four-game sweep of Cal State Dominguez Hills at Nettleton Stadium.
 
Miller’s line single to center field brought home the winning run in the 13^th inning of Friday’s 5-4 series opening win. The junior from Santa Cruz came up with a pinch-hit base hit to plate the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning of Saturday’s second game. Miller was hit by a pitch with two down in the 11^th inning of Sunday’s series finale and his pinch runner scored the game-winning run two batters later in a 7-6 win.
 
Miller hit .375 (6-for-16) on the weekend while playing flawless defense. He has yet to commit an error this season. He threw out the only runner who attempted to steal against him and has now retired a conference-best eight of 15 runners attempting to do so in conference play.  
 
Miller was not expected to be the Wildcats’ everyday catcher this season, but Jake Bailey sustained an early-season injury and Miller has held a firm grip on the starting job ever since. He’s batting .302 with 14 RBI and a team-high six game-winning RBI and has easily been the CCAA’s top defensive backstop. He’s allowed only two passed balls and eight wild pitches. The Wildcats are 23-3 when he starts.