TURLOCK – The Chico State softball team opened the first day of the Mizuno Tournament of Champions in fine style, fusing solid pitching with an offensive attack that produced a combined nine runs and 18 hits, and the effective combination resulted in a pair of Wildcat wins. Chico State defeated Chaminade University 5-2 in Friday’s first contest, then came from behind to down Dixie State College 4-2 at Pedretti Park in Turlock.
The Wildcats, who have won their last four contests, improved to 15-11 on the year and 5-1 in non-conference games this season. Chaminade fell to 13-20 overall, while Dixie State dipped to 16-9 on the year.
Chico State wasted little time in staking Wildcats’ pitcher Kacie McCarthy with a lead in the day’s opening game against Chaminade – an error by the Lady Swords allowed Charlotte Honciano to score from third base in the first inning, then in the second Honciano delivered a bases-loaded double to plate Kelly Head, Jessie Minch and Christine Johnson to put the ’Cats up 4-0. Chaminade cut the Chico State lead in half with single runs in the second and fifth innings, but in the top of the sixth the Wildcats added a bit of insurance when Christine Johnson doubled home Head to make the score 5-2. That would be all the offense McCarthy would need, as she retired six of the final seven batters she faced to wrap up her third consecutive complete game and second straight win to improve to 7-7 on the season. Christine Johnson went 3-for-3 to lead Chico State’s eight hit attack; Honciano had two hits in three trips and drove in a single-game season high three runs.
BOX SCORE vs. Chaminade
Against Dixie State, Honciano put the Wildcats in front with her first home run of the year, a solo shot to left field leading off the bottom of the third inning. The Red Storm tied the game in the top of the fourth when Kelsey Mendenhall doubled and scored on a Chico State throwing error; later in the inning Johnna Brown connected for a solo homer to put Dixie State on top 2-1. That would be all the offense the Red Storm
generated against Wildcats’ pitcher Jessica McDermott, who proceeded to set down 10 of the final 11 Dixie State batters she faced. The ’Cats took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth, with four straight two-out singles by Sam Quadt, Bec Johnson, Courtney Brock and Rachel Failla producing a pair of runs and putting Chico State back in front 3-2. The Wildcats extended their lead in the sixth, when Christine Johnson reached on an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came home on a two-out Honciano single to make the score 4-2. Dixie State got the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh inning, but McDermott struck out Bailie Hicken to end it and give the ’Cats their second win of the day. McDermott struck out five and walked only one in going the distance, improving her season record to 6-2; Chico State pounded out 10 hits on offense, with Rebecca Johnson going 3-for-3 and Honciano, Quadt and Failla contributing two safeties apiece.
BOX SCORE vs. Dixie State
The Wildcats have three games scheduled Saturday in the second day of the Mizuno Tournament of Champions – at 9:00 a.m. Chico State faces the 18th-ranked team in the country, Grand Canyon University, followed by a game with Western Washington University at 11:00. The ’Cats finish the day’s action at 4:15 p.m., taking on Hawaii Hilo.
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