CARSON, Calif. – Jessica McDermott held Cal State Dominguez Hills to just four hits through seven shutout innings, and Chico State pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to give the Wildcats a 2-0 victory and a split of their series-opening doubleheader with the Toros Friday at Toro Diamond. Earlier in the day, Dominguez Hills posted a 6-1 win over the ’Cats.
In the first game of the doubleheader, things did not go well for Chico State right from the start, as Cal State Dominguez Hills put a crooked number on the board and knocked out Wildcats starter Lauren Walker in the first inning – RBI singles by Emiley McEwen and Liz Vasquez and Regina Farfan’s two-run double gave the Toros a quick 4-0 lead. Dominguez Hills added to their advantage in the fourth inning when Jessica Morrow scored on a Christina Wieck wild pitch; then in the fifth an RBI single by Vasquez gave the Toros a 6-0 lead…Farfan, meanwhile, held Chico State hitless through the first five innings. The Wildcats averted the no-hitter and the shutout in the top of the sixth – with one out, a walk, hit batter and an infield single by Gwen Cox loaded the bases…then Farfan walked Rachel Failla to force home Christine Johnson with what turned out to be the ’Cats lone run of the contest. Relief pitcher Kaci Carroll came in and short-circuited the rally by getting Bec Johnson to hit into an inning-ending double play. In the seventh Carroll surrendered a two-out single to Wieck, but got Sam Quadt to ground out to end the game and give Dominguez Hills a 6-1 victory. Farfan (11-7) got credit for the win, with Carroll picking up her third save of the season…Walker took the loss to fall to 4-10 on the year.
The Wildcats needed a huge effort from McDermott in the nightcap, and Jessica did not disappoint – the freshman from San Diego retired nine straight Toros hitters at one point and had to work around just one mild scoring threat the entire game. Chico State had three chances to take the lead but were denied each time, leaving runners at first and third in the first inning…stranding two runners in scoring position in the fourth…then in the fifth the ’Cats threatened again, but Bec Johnson was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second on a two-out single by Jenna Wermes. While McDermott kept Dominguez Hills in check, Chico State plated what would turn out to be the only runs of the game in the top of the seventh inning – Kait Manning led off with a double to left and scored when Cox doubled to right. Bec Johnson delivered another two-bagger to bring home Cox and give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead, and that would be all the offense McDermott would need, as she retired the Toros in order in the bottom of the seventh to earn the complete game shutout win and give Chico State the doubleheader split. McDermott, who has now allowed just one earned run in her last 29-and-a-third innings of work, struck out five to improve her season record to 5-11; Cox and Bec Johnson paced the Wildcats’ seven-hit attack, each going 2-for-4. Carroll (7-3) took the loss for Dominguez Hills.
With the doubleheader split, Chico State improved to 10-21 on the season and 4-14 in the CCAA. Cal State Dominguez Hills went to 19-11 overall and 9-5 in conference play.
Chico State and Dominguez Hills square off for another twinbill to complete the series tomorrow at Toro Diamond, with the first game scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
BOX SCORE - Game One
BOX SCORE - Game Two
