ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – Don’t tell the Chico State Wildcats softball team that Friday the 13th is unlucky – the ’Cats used the day to put an end to their 10-game losing streak, and they did it with authority, beating CSU Monterey Bay 4-2 and Grand Canyon University 7-0 in the first day of the three-day Sonoma Invitational.
In Chico State’s opening game against Monterey Bay, sophomore righthander Lauren Walker turned in one of her best pitching performances of the season, matching her career high with eight strikeouts…but it was the Otters who actually got on the board first; Shelair Rowell’s RBI single in the bottom of the third inning gave Monterey Bay a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats tied the game in the top of the fourth; Gwen Cox led off the inning with a double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a double play grounder off the bat of Rachel Failla. The Otters went back on top 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Niki Ames delivered a two-out RBI single…but in the fifth Chico State erupted for three runs to take command of the contest – Charlotte Honciano led off with a double, and following a walk to Jesse Minch, the Wildcats pulled a double steal to put runners at second and third. Honciano came home on a Christine Johnson fielder’s choice grounder…Minch scored on a Jenna Wermes grounder to put the ’Cats in front…then back-to-back singles by Failla and Bec Johnson chased home Cox to give Chico State a 4-2 advantage. Walker took care of the rest, retiring nine of the last 10 Monterey batters she faced to lock down the Wildcat win. Chico State had eight hits in the game, with Cox and Bec Johnson each going 2-for-3 with a double; Failla finished 2-for-4 as Walker went the distance to earn the victory and improve to 3-8 on the season.
In the day’s second game, the Wildcats jumped on Grand Canyon early – consecutive RBI singles by Wermes and Failla and a two-run double by Bec Johnson put Chico State on top 4-0 in the first inning. While Wildcats starting pitcher Jessica McDermott kept the ’Lopes offense in check, Chico State went up 7-0 with three runs in the third; Honciano providing the big blow with a two-run single to center. That would be more than enough offense for McDermott, who teamed with Christina Wieck to hold the Otters scoreless on seven hits to post the 7-0 victory. The Wildcats piled up 11 hits in the winning effort, with Bec Johnson, Christine Johnson, Cox and Failla contributing two safeties apiece. McDermott struck out four in five-and-a-third innings to pick up the win and improve to 3-10 on the year.
The two Friday non-conference victories improved Chico State’s season record to 7-18.
The Wildcats will take on Sonoma State and CSU Monterey Bay Saturday in day two of the Sonoma Invitational; the ’Cats and Seawolves play at 11:00 a.m. (the game will be broadcast live on the Internet on the Seawolf Sports Network at
www.ustream.tv/channel/sonoma-state-seawolves), with the Wildcats and Otters getting underway at 3:00 p.m.
BOX SCORE vs. Monterey Bay
BOX SCORE vs. Grand Canyon University
