STOCKTON – The Chico State softball team’s weekend in Stockton ended on a disappointing note Saturday night, as the Wildcats were knocked out of the double-elimination California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament with a 3-1 loss to Sonoma State at Arnaiz Stadium. Earlier in the day, the ’Cats dropped a 2-1 decision to Cal State Dominguez Hills in the winner’s bracket game. Chico State now must wait until May 9 to find out if it will move on to play in the NCAA West Regional, or if the 2010 season will come to an end.
With Saturday’s two losses, the Wildcats – which entered the weekend No. 6 in the West Region rankings – now stand at 29-19 on the year. Chico State was hoping to get by Sonoma State Saturday night to earn a Sunday rematch with Dominguez Hills and the chance to play for the CCAA Championship Tournament crown…but it was not to be. The Wildcats got on the board first, though, with what turned out to be their only run of the game – in the bottom of the third inning, Christine Johnson reached on an infield single and scampered to third when Seawolves third baseman Ashley Britton threw the ball down the right field line. Sam Quadt promptly delivered an RBI single to center, and the ’Cats took a 1-0 lead. Sonoma State knotted the score in the top of the fourth inning when Vanessa Currie crossed the plate when Bec Johnson bobbled a slow roller off the bat of pinch hitter Nikki Jaime…then in the top of the fifth the Seawolves went up 2-1 when Simone Brandalise got aboard on a Kacie McCarthy error and eventually scored on Britton’s single to right field. Chico State got the potential tying run in scoring position in the fifth and sixth inning, but both times came away empty. In the top of the seventh Sonoma State plated a huge insurance run when Britton led off the inning with a “no doubt” homer over the left-center field wall, but the Wildcats weren’t about to go down without a fight. Chico State put the tying runs aboard with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh, but Seawolves reliever Julianne Martinez was able to snuff out the ’Cats rally by retiring the next three hitters to give Sonoma State the 3-1 victory. McCarthy (13-10) took the loss in relief; Samantha Lipperd (21-7) got credit for the win, with Martinez picking up her sixth save of the season. Chico State was held to just three hits on the evening, with Quadt going 2-for-2.
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In Saturday’s early game, the Wildcats saw their 10-game winning streak come to an end with a 2-1 loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Toros scored twice in the first inning, and the pitching combo of Lauren Harper and Stephanie Jimenez made the runs stand up, holding the ’Cats to just four hits in the contest. Katie Garcia's leadoff homer to left field off Wildcat starting pitcher Jessica McDermott in the bottom of the first inning quickly staked Dominguez Hills to a lead, and then later in the frame the Toros went up 2-0 when McDermott's bases loaded walk to Michelle Miranda forced home pinch runner Wendy Espindola with what would turn out to be the winning run. Chico State stayed close thanks to a brilliant relief stint by McCarthy, who hurled five-and-a-third innings shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five.
Chico State cut the Toros' lead in half in the top of the third inning when Jessie Minch drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on a Charlotte Honciano single to center. The Wildcats' only other scoring threat came in the top of the sixth - but with the bases loaded and two outs, Rachel Failla popped out to short to end the inning. A two-out single by Minch put the tying run aboard in the top of the seventh, but Honciano struck out to end the game, giving Dominguez Hills the 2-1 win. McDermott (14-7) went just two-thirds of an inning in picking up the loss; Harper (11-6) got credit for the win with Jimenez earning her sixth save of the season. The Toros now have two chances Sunday to beat Sonoma State to claim the CCAA Championship Tournament crown and an automatic berth in the NCAA West Regional.
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The Wildcats will find out next Sunday if they will participate in the West Regional, which is scheduled to begin May 14th. If it claims one of the top eight spots in the West, it will mark the first time since 2005 a Chico State softball team has competed in the NCAA Championship Tournament.
