SEASIDE, Calif. – The Chico State softball team experienced another case of the offensive blah’s Saturday in Seaside, as the Wildcats could only muster nine hits on the day in losing a pair of games to CSU Monterey Bay by final scores of 10-2 and 2-1…as a result, the Otters won three of the four games played against the ’Cats over the weekend at Otter Softball Complex.

Game one of Saturday’s double dip saw Chico State score in the top of the first on a Rachel Failla RBI single, but Monterey Bay answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, then went ahead 4-1 with three in the bottom of the second; Ashlee Trotter kicked-started the rally with a solo homer off Wildcats starter Lauren Walker. The Otters went up 6-1 with two runs in the third inning, then put the contest away in the fourth, plating four runs – two coming on Shae Olds’ third home run in as many games. The ’Cats scored a run in the fifth when Kait Manning doubled home Gwen Cox, but it wasn’t enough to keep the game going as Monterey Bay locked down the 10-2 win. Walker (8-15) lasted just three-and-two-thirds innings and was charged with the loss; Chico State managed only six hits in the game.

The nightcap featured a fine performance by Wildcats pitcher Jessica McDermott, but with only three hits in the game, Chico State couldn’t provide Jessica much in the way of run support. Failla staked McDermott to a 1-0 lead in the second inning with her third home run of the year, but the Otters tied the game with a run in their half of the second. The game stayed deadlocked until the bottom of the fifth when Monterey Bay pushed across what would prove to be the game-winner – Jennifer Montez singled home Alma Lopez to put Monterey Bay in front 2-1…and though the ’Cats were able to get the potential tying run aboard in the sixth and seventh innings, Otters pitcher Michelle Tating squelched both rally attempts to allow Monterey Bay to hang on for the 2-1 victory and chalk up the doubleheader sweep. McDermott (8-17) tossed a complete game five-hitter and struck out six, but was saddled with the hard-luck loss.

With Saturday’s setbacks, Chico State falls to 17-32 on the season and 5-23 in the CCAA…Monterey Bay improved to 28-22-1 overall and 15-9 in conference play.

The Wildcats are back in action this Friday and Saturday, as they return home to host San Francisco State in a pair of doubleheaders at University Softball Field. Friday’s series-opening double dip is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m.

BOX SCORE - Game One

BOX SCORE - Game Two