Chico State Athletics

When the Chico State softball team needed a pitcher to step up in a big spot during its road series against Cal State Dominguez Hills, freshman righthander Mari Takeda Bajan answered the call—and then some. The San Jose product appeared in three of the four weekend contests, racked up over 18 innings pitched, registered the first shutout of her collegiate career, and was a key factor in the ’Cats earning a hard-fought series split. Takeda Bajan’s contributions in the pitcher’s circle make her the latest Wildcat of the Week.
 
Takeda Bajan allowed just two earned runs in 18-and-a-third innings of work against Dominguez Hills, striking out nine and holding the Toros to a collective .247 batting average. All but two of those innings came in Saturday’s series-ending doubleheader.
 
Takeda Bajan came out of the Wildcats’ bullpen in Friday’s series opener and logged a pair of scoreless innings, then followed up Saturday with a complete game four-hitter in blanking Dominguez Hills 1-0. Not only did she post her first-ever Chico State shutout, Takeda Bajan also picked up the first hit of her Wildcat career when she singled in the fifth inning.
 
Just an hour later, in Saturday’s nightcap, Takeda Bajan made her second relief appearance of the series, and ended up hurling nine-and-a-third innings, allowing just two earned runs as Chico State dropped a 6-5, 14-inning decision to the Toros.
 
Takeda Bajan’s multi-inning effort over the weekend was all the more impressive as she lowered her season earned run average by nearly a full run, from 2.62 to 1.82—currently ranking eighth among all CCAA hurlers. Takeda Bajan is 3-3 on the season.
 
Takeda Bajan and the Wildcats are in action this weekend, playing three non-conference games as part of the Tournament of Champions, taking place at Pedretti Park in Turlock.