CHICO – The challenge facing the Chico State softball team heading into this weekend’s four game set with Cal State Stanislaus was a simple one…in theory, anyway. The Wildcats, in the middle of a five school logjam fighting for the final two California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference tournament berths, knew they needed to take care of business against the visiting Warriors if they had hopes of advancing to postseason play. The ’Cats are officially halfway to meeting that challenge, as the No. 6 team in the NCAA West Region took both ends of its series opening doubleheader Friday, beating Stanislaus by scores of 2-1 and 4-1 at University Softball Field.

Chico State – which snapped a 15-game losing streak to Cal State Stanislaus dating back to 2006 – improved to 26-17 on the season with their sixth and seventh straight wins, but more importantly, moved into sole possession of fourth place in the CCAA with a 19-14 conference mark. The Wildcats enter the final day of the regular season Saturday a half-game ahead of UC San Diego and Humboldt State and one game in front of Cal State San Bernardino. Chico State hasn’t clinched anything yet, though – UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino were rained out Friday, with their four game series shifting to Saturday and Sunday, and Humboldt State remains alive for a postseason berth as it takes on conference leader Sonoma State in a regular season-ending doubleheader Saturday. With the two losses Saturday, Cal State Stanislaus dropped to 13-34-1 overall and 8-26 in CCAA play.

The first game of Friday’s doubleheader didn’t see its first run until the fourth inning, but Chico State wasted two early scoring opportunities, stranding the bases loaded in both the first and third frame. Wildcat pitcher Jessica McDermott did not allow a hit in her first four innings of work, and in the bottom of the fourth she was rewarded with a 1-0 lead, as Christine Johnson’s two-out RBI single plated Kelly Head to put Chico State in front. McDermott made the one run stand up until the top of the seventh, when Cal State Stanislaus knotted things up on a walk, error and two-out RBI single by Cassandra Carlos. The Wildcats answered by pushing across the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh, as – again with two outs – Christine Johnson scored on a Jenna Wermes single up the middle, giving Chico State the 2-1 victory. McDermott (12-6) allowed just two hits and struck out nine in earning the win and delivering her seventh straight complete game performance; Christine Johnson had three of the Wildcats’ eight hits in the opener.

GAME ONE - Box Score

Chico State grabbed an early 1-0 led in the nightcap as Sam Quadt’s first inning groundout drove in Charlotte Honciano, but Stanislaus tied the game in the top of the second as ’Cats starting pitcher Kacie McCarthy surrendered a leadoff triple to Jennifer Arnold and a run-scoring single to Kiley Mendez. Chico State took the lead to stay in the bottom of the third inning when Quadt singled home Jessie Minch…then in the fifth Quadt came through again, knocking in Head with a single to center to put the Wildcats up 3-1. Chico State plated a big insurance run in the sixth on a strange play – with Minch batting and Bec Johnson at third, Stanislaus catcher Missy Corral took a pitch from Arnold, reached back to throw, and had the ball pop out of her hand and roll to the backstop…Johnson charged home and beat the tag at the plate to give the Wildcats a 4-1 lead. The Warriors weren’t about to lie down, though, getting the first two batters aboard in the top of the seventh to put the potential tying run at the plate. McCarthy averted a late-inning meltdown, though, by retiring the next three batters in order and locking down the 4-1 Chico State win and the doubleheader sweep. McCarthy (12-9) went the distance, tying her season high with seven strikeouts in earning the victory; Quadt went 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Honciano also had two hits to extend her team-high hitting streak to eight straight games.

GAME TWO - Box Score

Chico State and Cal State Stanislaus wrap up regular season play Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon at University Softball Field. Prior to the first game, seniors Honciano, Bec Johnson and Christine Johnson will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony starting at 11:45 a.m.