TURLOCK, Calif. – The Chico State softball team’s impressive run during the three-day Mizuno Tournament of Champions came to an end Sunday, as the Wildcats lost a 10-5 slugfest to Grand Canyon University in the first game of silver bracket play at Pedretti Park in Turlock. Despite the loss, the ’Cats won five of their six tournament games over the weekend while putting together the team's longest winning streak of the season.
Things started encouragingly for Chico State Sunday, as they plated three runs against Grand Canyon in the top of the first inning – Gwen Cox’s ground-rule double drove in Charlotte Honciano to get the ’Cats on the board…then later in the frame Kait Manning and Reina Andreatta came through with RBI singles to give the Wildcats a quick 3-0 lead. But the Antelopes came back in their half of the first, as home runs by Tracy Lubken and Yasmeen Watkins highlighted a five-run inning that put Grand Canyon in front. The Antelopes extended their advantage with three runs in the bottom of the third inning…then in the fifth plated a pair to make it a 10-3 ballgame. Down but not out, Chico State scored twice in the sixth; Sam Quadt coming home on an Antelopes error and Cox knocking in Christine Johnson with a single to right field. The Wildcats made it interesting in the seventh, putting two runners in scoring position with nobody out…but Grand Canyon’s Natasha Dypchey came on in relief to set down three straight Chico State batters to preserve the Antelopes 10-5 win and end the ’Cats tournament run. Lauren Walker (7-14) was charged with the loss; the Wildcats piled up a single-game season high 14 hits in the contest, with Cox going 3-for-4 (Gwen hit safely in all six games the Wildcats played over the weekend and hit a robust .600 for the tournament); Manning and Johnson had two hits apiece.
Chico State’s season record slipped to 16-29 with Sunday’s loss. The Wildcats will be back in action this Friday and Saturday as they return to conference play, hitting the road to take on the Otters of CSU Monterey Bay. Game one of Friday’s double dip is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.
BOX SCORE vs. Grand Canyon University
