TURLOCK – Based on the results, it can be an easy to assume that the Chico State softball team enjoys playing in Turlock. The Wildcats have won 12 of their 14 games this season in the central California locale, including five straight in this weekend’s Mizuno Tournament of Champions. After picking up two victories Friday, the ’Cats won three games on Saturday, beating Grand Canyon University 2-1, Dominican University 6-2 and Montana State-Billings 6-0 to emerge as one of only two undefeated teams in the tournament. Chico State advances to the tournament’s Gold Bracket and will compete for top honors Sunday, facing sixth-ranked Western Washington in a semi-final matchup beginning at 12:15 p.m. at Pedretti Park.
Saturday’s win improved the Wildcats’ season record to 19-7. The victory over Grand Canyon served as a modest milestone for Angel Shamblin, who recorded her 50th win in her Chico State coaching career.
Starting bright and early at 8 a.m. Saturday, Chico State and Grand Canyon squared off at Warrior Field on the campus of Cal State Stanislaus. After stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning, the Wildcats opened the scoring in the third when a bases-loaded single by Jackie Munoz plated Hailey Stockman. While starting pitcher Sam Baker kept the Antelopes off the scoreboard, Chico State went up 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Stockman reached second base on a throwing error, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Baker’s sacrifice fly to right field.
The Wildcats promptly gave the run back in the top of the sixth inning, as Grand Canyon’s Claire Zampini scored from third on a Stockman throwing error, cutting the Chico State lead to one. But Baker made sure there would be no late-inning drama, setting the ’Lopes down in order in the bottom of the seventh to wrap up the 2-1 win. Baker struck out nine en route to her 12th complete game of the year.
BOX SCORE vs. Grand Canyon University
Against Dominican, Chico State jumped out to an early lead, as four of the first Wildcat batters reached against Penguins starting pitcher Jessi Saaty – Britt Wright led off the game with a single, stole second and scored on a base hit by Stockman. Later in the inning, Diana Payan came home on a Jenna Wermes groundout, quickly putting the ’Cats up 2-0. Dominican answered in the bottom of the first, as Dommie Perry delivered a two-out RBI single and scored on a double by Saaty to tie the game at two apiece. The contest then transformed into a pitcher’s duel, as Saaty set down 10 straight Wildcats and Chico State starter Jessica McDermott retired 14 of 16 Dominican batters.
The ’Cats scored what turned out to be the winning runs in the top of the seventh inning, all courtesy of Penguin errors. Jessie Minch reached on a miscue by Dominican first baseman Kellie Hislop, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on Sam Quadt’s sac fly to center, putting Chico State back on top, 3-2. Payan and Stockman followed with back-to-back singles, with another Penguin throwing error leaving them at second and third. Rachel Failla knocked them both in with a single to center, and would score on the same play thanks to Dominican’s fourth error of the inning. Now up 6-2, McDermott tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh to lock down the victory.
McDermott went the distance in picking up the win, striking out a career-high 12 batters to improve to 5-1 on the year; Payan and Stockman each went 2-for-4 to lead Chico State’s eight hit attack.
BOX SCORE vs. Dominican University
The Wildcats saved their best for last against Montana State-Billings, combining well-executed offense with Baker’s second pitching gem of the day. Chico State broke out on top when Stockman singled home Wright and Quadt in the top of the first inning. In the second the Wildcats went up 3-0 as Quadt doubled home Taylor Hanamaikai. That would be more than enough offense for Baker, who was never seriously threatened, allowing just one Yellowjackets baserunner to reach third the entire contest while at one point striking out seven of nine hitters.
Chico State iced the game away in the top of the seventh inning – the Wildcats loaded the bases, with Hanamaikai scoring on a Quadt groundout. Jessie Minch scored from third on an error by Montana State-Billings third baseman Angela Lingle, with Wright coming home later in the frame to make it 6-0. Baker locked down the victory by retiring the Yellowjackets in order in the bottom of the seventh, sending the ’Cats to their fifth straight win and into the Tournament of Champions Gold Bracket. Stockman finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI; Wright also had two hits in the win. Baker finished with 11 strikeouts in the game while notched her fourth shutout of the season and improving to 13-3 overall.
BOX SCORE vs. Montana State-Billings
Fans can follow Sunday’s Gold Bracket semifinal game with Western Washington on Live Stats through the Wildcat Athletics website. If the Wildcats beat the Vikings, Chico State will advance to the Gold Bracket championship contest Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. against the winner of the other semifinal matchup between Sonoma State and Hawaii Pacific.
