PHOENIX - Chico State swept a doubleheader from Grand Canyon University, 2-1 and 8-2 in a pair of seven-inning games Saturday at Brazell Stadium. The wins improve the Wildcats to 16-7 overall. The series wraps up with a game on Sunday at noon.

After combining for 28 hits and 20 runs in the opening game of the series on Friday night, fans may have been surprised by the pitching duel that developed in the opening game of the doubleheader.

The Wildcats’ Mike Robbins (W, 4-1) scattered six hits over five and a third inning, allowing one unearned run. He struck out five and walked two.  Kyle Gibson came on to finish out the game, allowing two hits, for his second save of the season.

Grand Canyon’s Ryan Hoffner (L, 1-6) worked five innings, allowing six hits, two runs, and a walk while striking out three.

Grand Canyon scored its run in the second inning and held on to the slim lead through five innings.

Pinch hitter Nick Dingman drove in the winning run in the sixth inning, as the Wildcats rallied for two runs in the frame. Prior to the sixth, Chico State had managed to put runners in scoring position in three innings, but could not push a run across.

Cody Dee and Jimmy Dodos each had two hits for the ‘Cats.

In game two, Chico State broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the sixth thanks to an RBI double by Matt Bitker and a run scoring single by Dee. The ‘Cats added four more in the seventh on RBI by Dodos, Victor, Dee, and Shane Farmer.

Andrew Pluta (W, 4-2) went the distance, allowing two runs on four hits, no walks and three strikeouts.

Nick Lowery (L, 1-4) pitched five and two-thirds, allowing four runs, one earned, on six hits.

Grand Canyon’s Jeff Mutchler belted a pinch-hit home run to right to tie the game in the fifth inning at 1-1.