SEASIDE, Calif. - All the energy, emotion, timely hitting, and clutch pitching one would expect from a team fighting for a spot in the postseason was there. Unfortunately for the Chico State baseball team, it was emanating from the dugout of last-place CSU Monterey Bay. The host Otters won their 11th game of the season 8-4 to eliminate Chico State from California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament contention Saturday.
Chico State bounced back to win both games of their doubleheader with the Otters, 19-3 and 5-4.
The Wildcats mustered a spirited comeback Saturday in the game that had to be completed a day late following Friday's rain-halted action with the host Otters leading 4-1. They scored once in the seventh and two more times in the eighth to tie the game 4-4, but with the bases loaded and no one out, Chico State could not push across the winning run. Bryan Willson struck out, Robert Mills was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a pitch in the dirt, and Jordan Larson struck out to end the inning.
Monterey Bay then struck for four runs in the bottom-half of the eighth, and the heart of the Wildcats' order was retired in order in the ninth.
The Wildcats erupted for 12 runs in the first inning of the second game and cruised to victory. The freshman Willson drove in six runs and laced a pair of doubles, Bret Ringer homered and drove in three runs, and Adam Arakawa and Jordan Larson also drove in three runs apiece.
Joel Garcia threw a complete-game nine-hitter to earn the win and improve to 9-2. It was his seventh complete game of the season, tying him for fourth in Chico State history. If that was in fact Garcia’s final game in a Chico State uniform, he’ll also finish with a career earned run average of 2.74, the ninth lowest in Chico State history.
One player hoping to have a career similar to Garcia, freshman pitcher Jordan Lindebaum, followed suit Saturday, firing a complete-game of his own in the nightcap. Lindebaum improved to 5-4 with the win, striking out five and not issuing any walks. He gave up nine hits and four runs, three of which were earned.
The Wildcats scored three times in the second inning and never trailed. Kevin Seaver led off with a double, Nick Victor and Jimmy Dodos walked, Seaver scored on an error, and Adam Arakawa and Bryan Willson rapped RBI-singles. Chico State added another run in the third when Ringer led off with a single, moved to third on Seaver’s third double of the day, and scored on Victor’s sacrifice fly.
Kyle Eveland doubled to lead off the fifth and came around to score on Seaver’s sacrifice fly to cap Chico State’s scoring.
Seaver was 5-for-7 on the day to raise his average to .435 with just one game remaining. The Chico State single-season batting average record is .422, set by National Player of the Year Steve Gotowala in 1997.
Chico State moves to 34-21 overall and 19-16 in the CCAA. CSU Monterey Bay is 11-41 overall and 6-29 in the CCAA.
The teams wrap up the regular season with a single game Saturday at noon in Seaside.
GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE
