CHICO – Sam Baker and the rest of the Chico State softball team couldn't have put together a more complete performance than they did in the opener of Friday's doubleheader against conference-leading Cal State Dominguez Hills – Baker tossing the first perfect game of her Wildcat career while the 'Cats knocked out 10 hits and mercy-ruled the Toros, 8-0. But the day ended on a somewhat sour note, as Chico State – one out away from a doubleheader sweep – couldn't seal the deal, ultimately dropping a 4-3 decision in 11 innings at University Softball Field.
The doubleheader split moved No. 15 Chico State to 26-12 overall and kept the 'Cats in third place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 17-7 conference record. Cal State Dominguez Hills, ranked 10th in the nation, moved to 37-9 on the season and 23-5 in CCAA play.
Britt Wright collected five hits on the day for Chico State, while Diana Payan pounded out four hits, including two doubles and a grand slam. Sam Quadt also contributed four hits and drove in five runs to highlight Friday's Wildcat offensive attack.
In game one of the doubleheader, Baker was on fire right out of the gate, setting down the first nine Dominguez Hills hitters she faced – seven by strikeout. The 'Cats provided plenty of offense in the bottom of the third, when Wright scored on a base hit by Quadt, then later in the frame, with the bases loaded, Payan pounded her first-ever big fly as a Wildcat over the left field fence, putting Chico State in front 5-0.
Baker continued to set 'em up and knock 'em down, recording nine more outs without incident, with only two balls leaving the infield. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Wildcats put an end to the proceedings by plating three – Bianca Lopez providing an RBI single, followed by Quadt's two-run single down the right field line, giving the 'Cats the 8-0 lead and the win. Baker struck out 10 of the 18 batters she faced in tossing the perfecto, improving to 12-5 on the season. Lauren Harper of the Toros took the loss to fall to 18-6 overall.
BOX SCORE - Game One
The nightcap of Friday's twinbill saw Dominguez Hills jump out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on Daisy Beltran's two-out RBI double off Wildcat starter Jessica McDermott. Chico State erupted in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of a Toros error and cashing in on two-out hits by Quadt and Hailey Stockman to go up 3-1.
After missing an opportunity to add to their cushion in the sixth inning, the 'Cats took that 3-1 lead into the top of the seventh. Doubles by Beltran and Stephanie Hua brought Dominguez Hills to within one, and Kayla McConnell was summoned from the Chico State bullpen. She fanned Khryssi Steele for the second out of the inning, but a single up the middle by Veronica Vazquez plated Beltran to knot up the contest at three apiece.
Chico State had two chances to win, but wasted leadoff doubles by Wright in the seventh inning and Payan in the eighth, with Payan getting thrown out at the plate to end the frame. In the top of the 11th, Dominguez Hills pushed across what proved to be the winning run, and ironically, it was Baker, in relief of McConnell, who surrendered the two-out RBI double by pinch-hitter Brittany Brenner that drove home Liz Jimenez to give the Toros a 4-3 lead.
The Wildcats put the potential tying and winning runs aboard with one out in the bottom of the 11th, but the rally was snuffed out when Wright lined into a double play to end the game, allowing Dominguez Hills to escape with the 4-3 victory and the doubleheader split. Stephanie Jimenez (18-2) pitched all 11 innings for the Toros to earn the win; McConnell was saddled with the loss to fall to 6-3 on the season.
BOX SCORE - Game Two
Chico State and Dominguez Hills are set to wrap up the four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m.
