SAN FRANCISCO – Jessica McDermott struck out 10 in a complete-game two hitter as the Chico State softball team split a doubleheader at San Francisco State Saturday, winning the first game 3-0 and dropping the second in 10 innings, 2-0. Freshman Kacie McCarthy held San Francisco State scoreless on one hit through nine innings in the nightcap, but the Gators won the game on Heather Jensen’s walk-off homer in the 10th.

McDermott retired the first seven hitters she faced and the last 11. She gave up a base hit with one out in the third, but left fielder Christine Johnson threw the runner out trying to stretch it into a double. She then allowed a leadoff single in the fourth, but the runner was thrown out on a fielder’s choice and McDermott retired 11 in a row to end the game, including five via strikeout, to improve to 9-5.

The Wildcats, ranked No. 7 in the West Region and involved in a tight race for one of the top four spots in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and the Conference Championship Tournament berth that goes along with it, were on the verge of a heartening sweep. McCarthy gave them plenty of time to push across a run, but they stranded five runners over their final three innings at the plate and never could scratch across the winning run.

She almost wiggled off the hook in the 10th, but with two out and a runner on, Jensen hit the first pitch of the at-bat over the fence in center field. She dipped to 8-9 on the season with the tough-luck loss.

The Wildcats are now 19-16 overall and 12-13 in CCAA action. San Francisco State is 18-21 overall and 11-11 in the CCAA.

Chico State had numerous chances to break through in the second game. Johnson was thrown out trying to steal second to end the first, Jenna Wermes was stranded in scoring position in the second, Christina Wieck never advanced following a leadoff double in the third, Rebecca Johnson was cut down trying to steal second to end the fifth, Kelly Head led off the sixth with a double but was eventually stranded on third, Head reached on an error in the eighth but the ’Cats failed to make it hurt, and the ninth and 10th innings ended with the potential go-ahead run on second.

Rebecca Johnson finished with two of the Wildcats’ five hits.

Jenna Wermes led the Wildcats’ offense attack in the opener, going 2-for-2 with a double and also reached base twice on walks.

Rachel Failla broke a scoreless tie with an RBI-single to left that plated Christine Johnson, who had reached on an error to lead off the inning. They added an insurance run in the sixth when Wermes led off with a walk, Jessie Minch singled, and Christine Johnson singled up the middle to drive in the run. Wermes singled home Failla in the seventh to make it 3-0.

BOX SCORE - Game One

BOX SCORE - Game Two

The series concludes with a doubleheader Sunday at noon at San Francisco State.