SEASIDE, Calif. – Two-out RBI singles by Christine Johnson and Charlotte Honciano keyed a two-run fourth inning to give the Chico State softball team a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over CSU Monterey Bay Friday in the opener of a four-game series at the Otter Softball Complex. Monterey Bay rebounded in the second game of the doubleheader, shutting out the ’Cats 8-0.
Things started badly for Chico State in the first game of the double dip, as the Otters jumped out to a first inning lead courtesy of a two-run home run by Shae Olds. The Wildcats cut the lead in half with a run in the second, as Kait Manning scored from third on a passed ball to make it a 2-1 ballgame. While Chico State pitcher Lauren Walker kept Monterey Bay’s offense quiet, the ’Cats mounted their winning rally in the top of the fourth – with runners at the corners and two down, Johnson got aboard on an infield single, plating Rachel Failla to knot up the contest. Honciano immediately followed with a base hit to drive home Sam Quadt and give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead. The Otters got the potential tying run in scoring position in the fourth, fifth and sixth inning, but Walker managed to wiggle out of each jam…she then retired Monterey Bay in order in the seventh to nail down Chico State’s series-opening win. Walker (8-14) allowed just five hits in tossing the complete game victory; the Wildcats rapped out nine hits in the game, with Honciano and Gwen Cox each going 2-for-4.
Game two of the doubleheader was all Otters, as Monterey Bay scored early and often against Chico State’s Jessica McDermott and clubbing three home runs en route to an 8-0 victory. Olds cracked her second round tripper of the day, a solo shot in the third inning to up the Otters lead to 2-0…then in the fourth Jamie Moon launched a two-run blast to make it a 4-0 ballgame. After scoring two more runs in the fifth, Niki Ames sent everybody home with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning, sealing Monterey Bay’s 8-0 victory and the split of the twinbill. McDermott (8-16) struck out five in four-and-a-third innings but took the loss for the Wildcats…singles by Johnson and Manning were the lone Chico State hits against Otters starter Jessica Boyle, who went the distance to earn her 10th win of the year.
With the split of the double dip, Chico State goes to 17-30 on the year and 5-21 in the CCAA; Monterey is now 26-22-1 overall and 13-9 in conference play. The Wildcats and Otters meet again Saturday for another doubleheader to wrap up the series…game one is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m.
BOX SCORE - Game One
BOX SCORE - Game Two
