TJ Yasuhara sizzled down the stretch in 2011 hitting .526 over the Chico State baseball team’s final nine games of the season. Nearly a year later, the senior shortstop is still scorching, leading the 6-2 Wildcats team with a .407 batting average. Tuesday, Yasuhara and the Wildcats host Northwest Nazarene in a home doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m., and they hope to remain just as hot against non-conference opponents at home.

The Wildcats are 50-5 at home against non-California Collegiate Atheltic Association (CCAA) teams since Dave Taylor’s first season as head coach in 2007. But Tuesday’s opponent, Northwest Nazarene, will provide a significant challenge to that dominance.

The Crusaders, based in Nampa, Idaho, bring a 7-1 record to Chico and are expected to challenge 10-time defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) champion Western Oregon for the conference title. Northwest Nazarene was picked to finish a very close second to the Wolves in the 2012 GNAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Western Oregon was the favorite on three coaches’ ballots and Northwest Nazarene on the other two.

Chico State is 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the CCAA following a four-game series split at UC San Diego over the weekend.  The Wildcats are ranked No. 15 in Monday’s Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll, while Northwest Nazarene is listed among teams outside of the top 30 that received votes.

The Wildcats have relied heavily on strong pitching a defense for their quick start. They boast a team ERA of 2.67 and fielding percentage of .973. Cody Foster, who had his 16-game hitting streak snapped Sunday, leads the team with eight RBI. Austin Prott, meanwhile, is slugging .750 as half of a platoon with Eric Angerer at first base that’s combined for two home runs and 10 RBI.

Wildcats starters Kagen Hopkins and Ryan O’Shea are both 2-0 to start the season, while relievers Juan Guerra, Mike Botelho, Sean Martin, Will Enos, and Troy Neiman (everyone with two or more appearances out of the bullpen) have combined for a 1.27 ERA in more than 21-plus innings of work.

Northwest Nazarene has pitched and fielded well, too. The Crusaders boast a 3.03 team ERA and .970 fielding percentage. They’ve also hit well. Kaleb DeHass leads the team with a .481 batting average. Meanwhile, Zach Steele transferred from Chico State to NNU and has hit .360 with three home runs and 10 RBI thus far. Charlie Gorzo has matched Steele’s power production with three home runs and 10 RBI of his own.

Both games will be broadcast locally on Fox Sports 101.7 FM and 1340 AM and available online via the Wildcat Webcast link at on the right side of this window.