To witness her domination in the pitcher’s circle at the Concordia Kickoff Classic, you’d never know that Brooke Larsen hasn’t pitched competitively in nearly two years. But in the tournament that opened Chico State softball’s 2022 campaign, Larsen demonstrated she was in midseason form, tossing three complete games, striking out 19 batters, and shutting out a pair of nationally-ranked Top 25 teams at Great Park in Irvine. The righthander’s sizzling start makes Larsen the latest Wildcat of the Week.
Larsen finished the three-day tournament with a 2-1 record and a miniscule 1.17 earned run average. In addition to her 19 K’s, the senior from Sacramento allowed just three runs and nine hits in 18 innings of work, walking just one batter on the weekend. She also contributed for the Wildcats at the plate, collecting two hits in five at-bats.
In the ’Cats’ season opener Friday, Larsen fired a near-perfect game against No. 3-ranked Biola, retiring 15 of the 16 batters she faced in an 8-0 Chico State win. On Saturday, she tossed her second straight shutout, scattering four hits and striking out nine as the Wildcats bested No. 21 Colorado Mesa 2-0.
Larsen again went the distance in her final start of the Kickoff Classic, giving up three runs, four hits, and fanning nine Sunday against No. 10 Concordia. Her weekend efforts earned Larsen a spot on the Concordia Kickoff Classic All-Tournament Team.
Now with 31 victories since joining the Wildcats in 2019, Larsen is currently tied for ninth place on the program’s all-time wins list. She already owns the lowest career ERA (1.57) and lowest hits per seven innings mark (4.60) in Chico State softball history.
Larsen and the Wildcats are on the road again this weekend for their final pre-conference tune-up, taking part in the three-day Desert Stinger tournament in Tucson, Arizona. Friday Chico State faces Central Washington and Regis (Colo.); Saint Martin’s and MSU Denver on Saturday, and Montana State Billings on Sunday.
