CHICO – Yogi would have loved it—for it was déjà vu all over again.
The Chico State Wildcats had their way once again with the pitching staff of Cal State Monterey Bay, pounding out 18 hits including three home runs, in route to a 16-6 victory in the first game of a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader played Saturday at Nettleton Stadium.
The Cats, who scored 11 runs over the first three innings in yesterday’s blowout, nearly matched that total in the first three frames against Otter starter Corey Lathram. Red-hot Jordan Larson led off the bottom of the first with a walk, stole second and came home to score on Jackson Evans’ single to right. After Johnny Hay struck out, Adam Arakawa launched a deep drive over the center field fence and the Wildcats had a quick 3-0 lead.
It was more of the same in the second inning as the Cats pounded out four straight hits after two were out including back-to-back doubles by Murphy and Evans to make it 6-0.
The Otters got on the scoreboard in the top of the third on a leadoff double by Thomas George and a run-scoring single by Nolan Murray.
But Chico wasted little time getting that run back and more as they plated three more runs in the bottom of the inning. Kevin Seaver led off with a walk, moved to third on a double by Adrian Bringas, and came home to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Deven Braden. Catcher Ben Manlove then took the first pitch he saw from Lathram over the left field fence to make it a 9-1 game.
The Otters were able to close the gap to 9-3 thanks to a two-run home run from Ryan Chagonjian in the sixth inning. It was a 10-4 game when Seaver’s three-run bomb highlighted a six-run outburst in the eighth inning and the Cats cruised to the 16-6 victory.
Scott Greene picked up his fourth victory of the year, allowing three runs over six innings, while walking one and striking out four.
GAME 1 BOX SCORE
In the nightcap, the Cats found themselves behind for the first time in the series as the Otters got back-to-back doubles from Ronnie Fhurong and Jacob Flores in the first inning off starter Kevin Brahney. But the lead for Monterey was short-lived as once again, the Wildcats put a crooked number on the board in the first inning. After Larson flew out to start the inning, the Cats pounded out five straight hits, including RBI doubles from Evans, Hay, and Seaver to go up 4-1. Chico made it a 5-1 game on Arakawa’s solo shot, his second home run of the day and his fifth on the season.
Brahney (2-2) picked up the win, allowing eight hits and two runs over five innings of work. Ian Waldron worked the final two frames to earn his first save of the season.
The series will conclude tomorrow with a single game beginning at 12 noon. Prior to the start of the contest, Chico State will be honoring the eight seniors playing their final regular season home game.
GAME 2 BOX SCORE
