CHICO, Calif. – The Chico State softball team finally got back on the field Friday and earned a split in doubleheader action against Cal State San Bernardino at University Softball Field. The Wildcats used a 10-hit attack and scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the opener 6-5; Debbie Shisler then tossed a one-hit shutout in the nightcap to salvage the second game of the twinbill for the Coyotes, 2-0.
The ’Cats, who had not played for nearly two weeks because of wet weather, showed little signs of rust in game one of the twinbill, jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead. Gwen Cox and Rebecca Johnson each delivered RBI doubles in the first inning; in the second frame Christine Johnson doubled home Sam Quadt and scored on a two-out single by Jesse Minch. San Bernardino reached Wildcats starting pitcher Lauren Walker for a run in the top of the third, but Chico State got it back in the bottom of the inning as Cox scored on a Rebecca Johnson sacrifice fly to make it 5-1.
The Coyotes strung together four hits and took advantage of a Christine Johnson throwing error to score four times in the fourth to knot up the contest; Christina Wieck having to take over on the mound for Chico State to get the final out of the inning. Wieck proceeded to shut down San Bernardino over the next three innings, matching Coyotes starter Carly Land zero for zero, and the Wildcats pushed across the game-winner in their last at-bat of regulation – with one out in the seventh, Christine Johnson reached on a bunt single but was forced at second on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Minch. Cox dropped a bloop single behind first base, sending Minch to third…then Jenna Warnes lined a clean single to center to plate Minch and give the ’Cats a 6-5 victory. Wieck (1-0) got credit for the victory in her first-ever pitching appearance as a Wildcat; Land (0-3) took the loss for San Bernardino.
Game two of the doubleheader was a pitcher’s duel between Shisler of the Coyotes and Chico State’s Jessica McDermott. San Bernardino could manage just one hit off McDermott through the first five innings, while Shisler kept the Wildcats hitless until Wermes smacked a clean double to left-center field in the fourth inning – it would prove to be the only Chico State hit of the game. The lone runs came in the sixth – the Coyotes loaded the bases with one out, then Ashley Collinwood sent a grounder to second that was mishandled by Chico’s Mady Lombard, allowing a run to score. Minch picked up the loose ball and made an errant throw to third; Priscilla Curiel scoring on the second miscue of the play, giving San Bernardino a pair of unearned runs and a 2-0 lead. That would be more than enough for Shisler (4-3), who retired the final five Wildcat batters in order to lock down the victory and give the Coyotes a split of the doubleheader. McDermott (1-4) went the distance for Chico State but was saddled with the hard-luck loss.
With the doubleheader split, Chico State’s record stands at 3-6 on the season and 1-1 in the CCAA; San Bernardino now sits at 6-10 on the season and 2-4 in conference play. The two teams will get together for another double-dip Saturday…the first game is set to start at 11:00 a.m. at University Softball Field.
BOX SCORE -- Game One
BOX SCORE -- Game Two
