LA JOLLA – Saturday’s doubleheader between Chico State and UC San Diego served up followed both extremes of the softball spectrum – a well-pitched, low-scoring opening game by a wild free-for-all nightcap that featured a combined 19 runs, 17 hits, seven errors, seven walks and eight hit batters. When the dust settled, the Tritons would prevail in both contests, shutting out the Wildcats 4-0 in game one, then coming from behind to win 10-9 to post the doubleheader sweep and force Chico State to settle for a split of its four-game series at the new Triton Softball Stadium.
With Saturday’s losses, the Wildcats dip to 4-2 on the season and 2-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). UC San Diego evened its overall record at 3-3 and are also 2-2 in conference play.
The Wildcats couldn’t generate much offense against Tritons pitcher Camille Gaito in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Chico State managed just two hits – a first inning single by Courtney Brock and a base hit by Sam Quadt in the sixth – and had just five total baserunners in the entire game. UC San Diego took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Katrin Gabriel scored on a Wildcat error, then put the game away in the bottom of the sixth, plating three runs on an RBI groundout and a two out, two-run double by Jennifer DeFazio. Christina Wieck got aboard for Chico State in the top of the seventh inning, reaching on a two out error, but Gaito got Reina Andreatta to pop up to short to put the finishing touch on her complete game shutout and seal the Tritons’ 4-0 victory.
BOX SCORE - Game One
Chico State jumped out to a big 6-0 lead in the second game, scoring three times in each of the first two innings. Brock got the Wildcats on the board with a single to drive in Charlotte Honciano; Wieck was hit by a pitch to force home another run…then Reina Andreatta coaxed a bases-loaded walk to plate Rachel Failla and put the ’Cats up 3-0. In the top of the second Chico State scored on fielder’s choice grounders by Brock and Jenna Wermes and Failla’s RBI single. But the big lead vanished quickly, as UC San Diego knocked Wildcat starting pitcher Jessica McDermott out of the game with a seven run second inning. Chico State retook the lead in the top of the third inning, with Honciano singling in a pair and Brock delivering her third RBI of the game to put the ’Cats up 9-7. The Tritons answered with a run in the bottom of the third to make the score 9-8, and it stayed that way until UC San Diego pushed across the game-winning runs in the bottom of the sixth inning – with McCarthy now pitching for Chico State, Nikki Spangler delivered a run-scoring single; then Kellin Haley’s RBI groundout gave the Tritions a 10-9 lead. Gaito, making a relief appearance for UC San Diego in the nightcap, slammed the door on the Wildcats’ comeback hopes by striking out Sam Quadt, Honciano and Brock in the top of the seventh inning to end it, and the Tritons took the 10-9 decision and the doubleheader sweep.
BOX SCORE - Game Two
Brock had three of Chico State’s 10 combined hits on the day, driving in three runs. Quadt went 0-for-5 in the nightcap to snap her early-season five game hitting streak.
The Wildcats are back in action next weekend, as they travel to Seaside to take on Cal State Monterey Bay in a pair of doubleheaders. The first game of Friday’s twinbill is set to begin at 1:00 p.m., while Saturday’s scheduled doubleheader will get underway at noon.
