SEASIDE – The usually sure-handed Chico State softball team struggled defensively Friday in its series-opening doubleheader against Cal State Monterey Bay, with five errors on the day nearly doing them in. The No. 6 Wildcats were beaten by the No. 19 Otters 7-0 in the first game of the twinbill, then thanks to two miscues in the bottom of the seventh, let a 7-5 lead get away in the nightcap before rallying to take an 8-7 decision in extra innings to earn a split of the two contests played at the CSUMB Softball Field.
With the doubleheader split, Chico State moves to 22-7 on the season and remains in fourth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 16-6 conference record. Cal State Monterey Bay is now 23-7 overall and 15-5 in CCAA play.
Chico State was held to three hits in the first day of Friday’s doubleheader, but piled up 11 safeties in the nightcap. Rachel Failla and Taylor Hanamaikai had three hits apiece in the second game, while Britt Wright and Emily McEnaney each had two hits on the day.
In game one of Friday’s doubleheader, Monterey Bay used the long ball to jump out to an early lead, as Jaime Moon cracked a solo homer off Sam Baker in the bottom of the first inning. The Wildcats had several opportunities to get on the board, putting runners in scoring position in three of the first four innings, but were unable to come up with the big hit…in fact, Otters starting pitcher Cori Reinhardt held the ’Cats hitless through the first four frames.
It was still a 1-0 game in the bottom of the fourth when two Chico State errors and a wild pitch led to four unearned runs, extending the Otters’ advantage to 5-0. McEnaney delivered the Wildcats’ first hit with a leadoff single in the fifth, but in the bottom of the inning Monterey Bay’s Jackie Serna smacked a two-run homer to make the score 7-0. The ’Cats tried to avoid the shutout in the top of the seventh, as singles by Hailey Stockman and Diana Payan and a walk to Failla loaded the bases, but Moon, taking over in the pitcher’s circle for Reinhardt, got Hanamaikai to line out to left field for the final out, and the Otters came away with the 7-0 victory. Reinhardt (12-2) got credit for the win, while Baker (9-4) allowed three earned runs on eight hits in four-and-a-third innings to take the loss.
BOX SCORE - Game One
The Wildcats got off to a much better start in the nightcap, putting a crooked number on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. Wright led off with a single off Monterey Bay pitcher Caitlin Wallace, moved up on a wild pitch and passed ball, then scored from third on a Sam Quadt groundout. After Stockman drew a two-out walk, McEnaney blasted a two-run homer to right field – her second round-tripper of the year putting Chico State up 3-0.
The ’Cats let Monterey Bay back into the contest in the bottom of the third, as a single and an error put two aboard for Angelina Orozco, who tripled down the right field line to pull the Otters to within one.
Chico State got the runs back in the top of the fourth inning – walks to Failla and Jackie Munoz and a single by Hanamaikai loaded the bases; Failla scoring on a passed ball to make it 4-2. After the Wildcats re-loaded the bases, Quadt was hit by a pitch to force home Munoz and put Chico State on top 5-2. The Wildcats stretched their lead to 6-2 in the top of the fifth when Payan drew a one-out walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Monterey Bay answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to make the score 6-5, but Chico State plated what turned out to be a huge run in the top of the seventh when Jessie Minch scored from second on Failla’s double to center. The Wildcats were three outs away from victory, but the defense faltered in the bottom of the seventh, as two errors and a misplay on a sacrifice bunt set up consecutive sacrifice flies by Serna and Nina Villanueva to tie the game at 7-7 and send the game to extra innings.
A one-out triple by Bianca Lopez in the top of the eighth inning gave Chico State the chance to re-gain the lead, but Reinhardt, who had entered the game in relief, got the next two Wildcat hitters to wiggle out of the jam. Then it was Kayla McConnell’s turn to walk the tightrope – the Chico State reliever working her way out of a first-and-third, two-out jam in the bottom of the eighth to keep things even.
The Wildcats went back on top with a two-out rally in the top of the ninth inning, as back-to-back singles by Failla and Hanamaikai and an error by Otters third baseman Danielle Onken plated pinch runner Marlee Rettig to make the score 8-7. Monterey Bay didn’t give up, though, getting the potential tying run to second base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but McConnell got Reinhardt to ground back to the box to end it, allowing Chico State to escape with the 8-7 victory and a split of the doubleheader.
McConnell (5-1) allowed no earned runs in four-and-two-thirds innings of relief to earn the win for the ’Cats.
BOX SCORE - Game Two
Saturday’s series-ending doubleheader has been postponed due to expected heavy rains in the Monterey area; the games will be made up at a later date still to be determined. Chico State will be back in action next Friday, taking part in the three-day Mizuno Tournament of Champions in Turlock. The Wildcats will take on California Baptist, Dixie State and Western Washington in first day action.
