TURLOCK – The Chico State softball team was four outs away from losing its third straight during Friday's opening day action of the Mizuno Tournament of Champions, but the Wildcat offense, which had gone 14 consecutive innings without scoring, finally came alive against Western Washington, plating the tying run in the sixth inning and - highlighted by Sam Baker's two-out, two-run home run - came through with four more in the top of the 8th to beat the Vikings 5-1 at Pedretti Park in Turlock. Earlier in the day, the 'Cats lost two tightly-played contests, falling to California Baptist 5-3 and Dixie State 1-0.
Friday afternoon's win raised Chico State's record to 23-9 on the season, and marked the seventh straight time the Wildcats have beaten Western Washington. The victory was the 'Cats' fourth in extra innings without a loss this year.
Chico State pitcher Kayla McConnell tossed a gem against the Vikings in what was easily her finest performance of the year. The junior righthander allowed just one unearned run in going the distance for the first time as a Wildcat, striking out eight and walking just one to improve her season record to 6-1. Britt Wright had three of the 'Cats' nine hits in the contest, driving in two, while Taylor Hanamaikai chipped in with two hits and an RBI.
McConnell and Western Washington starting pitcher Janelle Kasch matched each other zero for zero for the first three innings until the Vikings broke through with what turned out to be their only run of the contest - with the bases loaded and two outs, Jackie Munoz mishandled a high chopper to the left side of the infield, allowing Meghan Carrillo to score from third. Kasch made the 1-0 lead stand up until the top of the sixth, when Rachel Failla ripped her first career triple into the left field corner and scored two batters later when Hanamaikai sent a line single to right.
Neither team could score again in regulation, forcing extra innings. With Hailey Stockman on third in the top of the eighth, Baker smacked her second homer of the year over the left field fence to give the Wildcats their first lead of not only the game, but the entire day. Following a walk to Hanamaikai, a single by Munoz and a wild pitch, Wright provided some insurance with a two-run single to make it 5-1. Now with a four-run cushion, McConnell returned to the pitcher's circle and finished with a flourish, striking out Jackie Rothenberger and Kasch to end it, locking down the Chico State victory.
BOX SCORE vs. Western Washington
The Wildcats took the field at 8:45 Friday morning for its tournament-opening game with Pacific West Conference leader California Baptist, and the Lancers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard – Kendall Gorham was hit by a Jessica McDermott pitch to force home one run, then Tina Galinato’s RBI groundout gave California Baptist a 2-0 lead. Chico State had a couple of early chances to score, but the ’Cats couldn’t capitalize on Sam Quadt’s two-out triple in the first inning and a double by Munoz leading off the third.
A two-run double by April Vasquez in the bottom of the third inning put California Baptist up 4-0, but in the top of the fifth the Wildcats quickly got back in the ballgame – Stockman’s bases-loaded double plated Munoz and Bianca Lopez, and Diana Payan’s RBI single chased home Quadt to bring the ’Cats to within 4-3. Chico State, though, stranded the potential tying run at third, and the Lancers held on to their slim one-run advantage.
California Baptist added a big insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Mara Rodriguez blasted a solo homer to left field. In the top of the seventh, Stockman’s two-out double and a walk to Payan but the potential tying runs aboard, but Emily McEnaney struck out swinging to end it, giving the Lancers the 4-3 victory.
Emma Holden (15-3) went the distance for California Baptist, striking out 11 and surviving seven walks to earn the win; McDermott struck out 10 in her complete game performance, but took the loss to fall to 7-3 on the season.
BOX SCORE vs California Baptist
Against Dixie State, Baker started in the pitcher's circle and was virtually unhittable through most of the contest, retiring 16 of the first 17 Red Storm batters she faced. Chico State failed to provide Baker with any offensive support, mustering only a pair of singles by Quadt and a base hit by Wright against Dixie State starter Mattie Snow. In the top of the sixth, the Red Storm broke through to score what turned out to be the only run of the game, as Jaelle Judkins came home on back-to-back two-out singles by Courtney Hine and Johnna Brown.
The Wildcats tried to tie the game in the top of the seventh, as Hanamaikai drew a two-out walk, but pinch-hitter Jessie Minch went down swinging, allowing Dixie State to escape with the 1-0 win. Baker struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter in pitching a complete-game four-hitter, but took the hard-luck loss to fall to 9-5 on the season.
BOX SCORE vs. Dixie State
Chico State is scheduled to play two games Saturday as the weekend-long Mizuno Tournament of Champions continues. The Wildcats will battle 19-8-1 Saint Martin's University at 8:45 a.m., then take on the leader of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, 21-6 Montana State-Billings, at 11 a.m. Fans can follow the action on
Live Stats through the Wildcat Athletics website.
