CHICO – Around the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), it’s come as no surprise that the Chico State softball team is off to a hot start…after all, the Wildcats were picked to finish second to defending NCAA champion UC San Diego in the CCAA’s 2012 preseason coaches’ poll. But Head Coach Angel Shamblin’s squad is now receiving well-deserved recognition on the national stage, as the Wildcats jumped 11 spots to earn the No. 4 ranking – as well as one first place vote – in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 Poll, released Wednesday. Chico State takes its lofty status and 9-2 record to Arcata this weekend to take on Humboldt State in Friday and Saturday doubleheader action.
The Wildcats return to CCAA play following last Friday’s doubleheader sweep of non-conference opponent Academy of Art. Chico State won the games in totally different fashion, banging out 15 hits in the opener on the way to a 9-0 victory, then rallying for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat the Urban Knights 6-5 in the nightcap. The two victories extended the ’Cats’ current winning streak to five straight.
Chico State, which owns a share of second place in the CCAA with a 3-1 conference mark, is squaring off against Humboldt State for the second time this season. The two teams met Feb. 4 in a non-conference matchup at the Mizuno Best of the West Invitational; Sam Baker struck out 10 and made a three-run third inning stand up as the Wildcats edged the Lumberjacks, 3-2.
The ’Cats enter play this weekend averaging 4.9 runs and 8.2 hits a game, ranking third in the CCAA with a team batting average of .326. Chico State also boasts the No. 3 pitching staff in the conference, holding opposing batters to a miniscule .206 average while posting a team earned run average of 1.60.
Individually, Sam Quadt – who has hit safely in all 11 of Chico State’s games – is the CCAA’s top hitter, sporting a .571 batting average. The senior outfielder also leads the conference in on-base percentage (.605) and is tied for second with 20 hits. Teammate Hailey Stockman – one of seven Wildcats hitting over .300 on the year – is ninth in the CCAA with a .514 on-base percentage.
In the pitcher’s circle, Baker is fifth in the conference in ERA (1.25) and is tied for fifth with 31 strikeouts. Jessica McDermott is also among the CCAA pitching leaders – the senior righthander ranks eighth with a 1.56 ERA.
Humboldt State enters the weekend 6-7 overall and 0-4 in CCAA play. After starting the season winning four of five at the Mizuno Best of the West Invitational – their only loss coming to Chico State – the Lumberjacks have dropped six of their last eight, including losing both ends of a doubleheader last Sunday against Academy of Art, 5-2 and 13-3.
Humboldt features a productive offense that is batting a collective .304 while averaging five runs and eight hits a contest. Senior outfielder Felicia Viveiros, an All-CCAA First Team selection last year, is batting .528 and is one of four Lumberjacks with two home runs on the season. Junior first baseman Chrissy Stalf, last year’s CCAA Most Valuable Player, is ninth in the CCAA batting race with a .425 average while driving in a dozen runs, and freshman outfielder Dani Randall is among the conference leaders with 16 RBI.
The Lumberjacks have struggled in the pitcher’s circle – Humboldt ranks ninth among the CCAA’s 10 teams with a 5.86 earned run average. Jessica George has been the most effective of the Lumberjacks’ three pitchers – the sophomore righthander is 2-2 on the year with a 3.99 ERA.
Chico State has won the last three meetings with Humboldt State and six of the last eight, but the Lumberjacks hold a wide 82-24-2 lead over the Wildcats in the all-time series between the two teams.
Friday’s doubleheader is scheduled to get underway at noon at Humboldt State Softball Field, with Saturday’s twinbill slated to start at 11 a.m.
Fans can follow the action of all four games online via Live Stats.
