CHICO – It’s been rare this season that Chico State softball pitchers Jessica McDermott and Kacie McCarthy have been effective on the same day. But Saturday, the two righthanders turned in gutsy, back-to-back complete game performances, and the Wildcats provided enough offensive firepower to best visiting Sonoma State in both ends of their doubleheader at University Softball Field, winning the opener 5-3 and beating the Seawolves 3-1 in the nightcap. The sweep of the twinbill gave the ’Cats a split of the four game weekend series.
The two Wildcat wins put an end to the team’s three game losing streak, as Chico State improved to 13-11 on the season and 10-10 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Conference leader Sonoma State saw its five game win streak go by the boards Saturday, slipping to 20-7 overall and 15-5 in conference play.
Chico State opened the scoring in game one of Saturday’s double dip, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Seawolves pitcher Julianne Martinez mishandled a two-out grounder off the bat of Charlotte Honciano, allowing Jenna Wermes to score from third. Sonoma State grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning when LeeAnn Stroud tripled home Skylynn Myers and Janelle Arnold. It stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth, when the Wildcats took the lead for good – Rachel Failla’s RBI double plated Bec Johnson to knot up the contest; later in the frame Courtney Brock scored on a fielder’s choice to give the ’Cats the lead, and Christine Johnson capped the four-run rally with a two-out double that chased home Christina Wieck and Jessie Minch and extend Chico State’s advantage to 5-2. McDermott, battling her control most of the afternoon, surrendered a run in the sixth inning…then in the seventh, issued a walk and hit by pitch to put the potential tying run on base with two down. But the sophomore from San Diego was able to secure the final out, as third baseman Bec Johnson threw out Simone Brandalise from her knees to lock down the Wildcats’ 5-3 win. McDermott (5-2) struck out six and survived four walks and two hit batters to earn the victory; despite allowing five unearned runs, Martinez (9-4) was charged with the loss. Chico State outhit Sonoma State 6-4 for its first win over the Seawolves this season.
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McCarthy got off to a bit of a shaky start in game two, allowing three hits in the second inning, but Sonoma State’s rally was cut short when Arnold, after delivering a two-out RBI single, was thrown out at second base on a slick Wildcat relay to end the inning. The Seawolves’ 1-0 lead didn’t last long, as Kelly Head’s double to right field knocked in Failla to tie the score. McCarthy proceeded to shut the door on the CCAA’s top offense, allowing just a fifth inning single and retiring 15 of the final 17 Sonoma State batters she faced. Chico State plated what turned out to be the game-winning runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Head scored on a Sam Quadt single and a two-out Seawolves’ error allowed Christine Johnson to come home from third. McCarthy recorded the game’s final out herself on a comebacker off the bat of Myers, and the Wildcats came away with the 3-1 victory and the doubleheader sweep. McCarthy registered her eighth complete game of the season to improve to 6-7 on the year; Sonoma State starter Samantha Lipperd also went the distance but was tagged with the loss to fall to 11-2 overall. Failla and Head led Chico State’s seven hit attack with two safeties apiece, and both players, along with Christine Johnson, logged three total hits on the day.
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Chico State is back in action Friday, playing two games in the three-day Mizuno Tournament of Champions at Turlock’s Pedretti Park. The Wildcats will face Chaminade at 9:00 a.m. Friday, followed by a matchup with Utah’s Dixie State College at 11:15 a.m.
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