Colton Beatty’s two-run homer in the ninth sent the Chico State baseball team to its sixth straight loss – a burden no Wildcats team has had to bear since 2004. But much like that team did seven years ago, the Wildcats bounced back, bashing three home runs in a 12-6 victory over the Warriors in the nightcap Tuesday night at Nettleton Stadium. They now set out to further emulate the 2004 team, which won 11 of its next 12 games, the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament title, and the West Region crown to move on to the College World Series.
But first they’ll need to qualify for the CCAA Championship Tournament during a four-game series against rival Sonoma State that wraps up the regular season. Tuesday night’s win reduced the Wildcats’ magic number to secure a berth to two games with four to play. They are now 28-15 overall and 22-14 in the CCAA.
Cal State Stanislaus (24-18 overall and 16-18 in the CCAA) was eliminated from postseason contention with the loss.
Chico State enters the weekend in second place, a game ahead of Sonoma State and Cal State San Bernardino, two games clear of Cal Poly Pomona, and three games ahead of Cal State L.A. Those five teams will be playing for the three remaining spots up for grabs.
UC San Diego, which has secured its spot, will be the top seed barring a sweep at the hands of Cal State San Bernardino and a Chico State sweep. The Wildcats need any combination of wins and Cal Poly Pomona losses against Cal State L.A. equaling two to secure a berth.
Things were looking much more glum before the Wildcats’ offensive explosion in the nightcap. Ben Manlove hit a solo home run in the third to put Chico State ahead to stay, Adrian Bringas led off a six-run third with a solo blast, and Ian McKay mashed a 3-run shot in the fourth to give the Wildcats a 12-3 lead.
Manlove and McKay finished with three hits and three RBI apiece. Bringas was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs batted in. And TJ Yasuhara went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
Starter Nick Baker got the pre-determined short start and earned the win. He allowed two runs on Joe Madeiros’ 2-run homer in three innings, improving to 8-2. Ryan O’Shea allowed one run in two innings, Scott Newberry pitched three hitless frames, and Sheldon Lechuga was roughed up in the ninth, allowing three runs on four hits.
The Wildcats built a 3-1 lead in the opener on Bringas’ sacrifice fly and Cody Foster’s two-run homer – his first of the season. But the Warriors tied it in the sixth and took a 4-3 lead on Garrett Wright’s RBI single in the eighth.
Bringas’ first of two home runs on the day – a solo shot – knotted the score at 4-apiece. But Beatty hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth to give the Warriors the lead for good off Wildcats closer Juan Guerra (2-1).
Andrew Stueve, who pitched the final four-and-two-thirds innings for Cal State Stanislaus, allowing only Bringas’ home run, got the Wildcats in order in the ninth to improve to 5-2.
Yasuhara went 3-for-4, while Phil Johnson and Foster notched two hits apiece for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats open the series against Sonoma State in Rohnert Park with a single game Friday at 2 PM. They'll play there again Saturdy at 11 AM, before returning home for a doubleheader Sunday at noon at Nettleton Stadium.
GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE
