CARSON – As the old sports saying goes, you’ll take a win any way you can get ‘em. The Chico State softball team committed four errors in the opener of its Friday doubleheader with Cal State Dominguez Hills, but still found a way to emerge with a 4-3 victory. The Wildcats weren’t so lucky in the nightcap, mustering just three hits as the Toros earned a split of the series-opening twinbill with a 4-0 win at Toro Diamond.
The doubleheader split puts Chico State at 25-13 on the year, with the Wildcats remaining in third place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 16-10 conference record – but the standings continue to tighten in the race for one of the top four spots and an invite to the CCAA Championship Tournament. Cal State Dominguez Hills didn’t gain or lose ground with Friday’s split – the Toros are now 25-18 overall and in fourth place in the CCAA with a 15-11 conference mark.
The Chico State offense was stymied most of the day, held to a combined eight hits in the two contests. Diana Payan, Hailey Stockman and Jackie Munoz each had two hits to lead the Wildcats Friday.
In the opener of Friday’s twinbill, Cal State Dominguez Hills grabbed a 1-0 lead when Chico State gift-wrapped a run in the bottom of the first inning. Two Wildcat errors and a walk loaded the bases, then Veronica Vazquez singled home Jessica Amador to put the Toros in front. Chico State pitcher Sam Baker knotted up the contest in the top of the second when she launched her sixth home run of the year, a solo shot over the center field fence.
Dominguez Hills went back in front 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning when Jackie Reyes doubled, moved to third on a Chico State error and scored on a Khryssi Steele sacrifice fly. The Wildcats used a Toros miscue to pull even in the top of the third – Jessie Minch led off the inning with a single and scored from third when Payan’s two-out grounder was bobbled by shortstop Emiley McEwen.
Chico State took the lead for good in the top of the fifth inning – Payan delivered a bases-loaded single to plate Munoz; then Dominguez Hills pitcher Stephanie Jimenez hit Stockman with a pitch to force home Britt Wright to make it a 4-2 ballgame. The ’Cats’ fourth error of the contest led to another Toros run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to one, but Baker stiffened to allow just one baserunner the rest of the way, retiring Dominguez Hills in order in the seventh to seal the Wildcats’ 4-3 victory. Baker went the distance, surrendering just one earned run and striking out eight to raise her season record to 18-5.
BOX SCORE - Game One
Chico State’s Jessica McDermott and the Lauren Harper of the Toros locked up for a classic pitcher’s duel in the nightcap, until Dominguez Hills broke the game open in the sixth inning. As it turned out, all the offense the Toros would need came in the bottom of the first, when Steele led off the inning with a double and scored on a single by McEwen. Harper made the 1-0 lead stand up, allowing just two Wildcats to reach second base from the second inning on.
The Toros iced the contest away with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, and did all their damage with two outs – Cassy Snodgrass delivered an RBI single and Jackie Reyes knocked McDermott out of the game by doubling home Vazquez to make it a 3-0 game. Daisy Beltran greeted Wildcat reliever Kacie McCarthy with an infield single to drive home Snodgrass and make the score 4-0. Chico State went down quietly in the seventh, giving Dominguez Hills the win and the doubleheader split. In tossing the complete game shutout, Harper improved to 10-8 on the season; McDermott took the loss for the ’Cats to dip to 6-5 overall.
BOX SCORE - Game Two
Chico State and Cal State Dominguez Hills conclude the series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
Fans can follow the action on Live Stats through the Toro Athletics website.
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Saturday’s doubleheader will be broadcast live via Internet radio on the Toro Sports Network. Coverage starts approximately 15 minutes before the start of game one.
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