LA JOLLA – If game one provided an indication, it will be the first of many postseason games for the Chico State baseball team. Pitchers Kagen Hopkins and Sean Martin lived on the black, the offense was red-hot with runners in scoring position, and the defense provided a clean sheet in a 7-2 victory against Cal State San Bernardino in the opening round of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament Thursday in La Jolla.
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The Wildcats’ 11th in the last 13 games moved them into a winners’ bracket game against UC San Diego Friday at 3 p.m. It also strengthened their standing in the all-important NCAA West Region rankings, which will eventually determine the region’s four representatives in the NCAA Championship Tournament.
Playing like one of the region’s best since dropping three of four at Cal State San Bernardino four weeks ago, the Wildcats put together a performance among their best of the season.
“We played great defense, executed skills, and pitched well,” said Wildcats Head Coach Dave Taylor. “I really felt like it was as good as we’ve played all season.”
Hopkins piled up six shutout innings to start the game, and after he allowed a two-run homer, Martin came on for three straight scoreless innings and his first save as a Wildcat. Hopkins improved to 7-3 with the win.
Blake Gibbs went 3-for-3 with an RBI and scored twice. He also walked and reached base in all four of his plate appearances. Ian McKay went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs, and TJ Yasuhara had a pair of hits, a run and an RBI. Cody Foster finished with two hits as well and Matt Anderson went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
“Hitting will come and go, but I thought we took some good at-bats against a good pitcher today,” said Taylor. “But pitching and defense is why we’re here. We’re going to ride those two things as far as we can.”
Second baseman Cody Webber and the shortstop Yasuhara traded highlight reel diving catches in the first two innings. Foster also made a sliding catch in center field and Gibbs made a nice running catch in left. The Wildcats, ranked No. 2 in the CCAA and No. 9 in the nation in fielding percentage, also made all the routine plays.
Cal State San Bernardino came in as the conference’s top fielding team, but committed three errors that led to a pair of unearned runs.
The first of those errors led directly to the Wildcats’ first run. Yasuhara singled, moved to second on a balk, and then scored when, while advancing on a wild pitch, the throw toward third sailed into the outfield. Foster doubled with two outs and Gibbs singled him home to make it 2-0.
Hopkins had allowed just four hits in the first six innings, striking out five in the process.
“It all started on the mound,” said Gibbs. “Kagen took all the pressure off us.”
The Wildcats rewarded Hopkins with two more runs in the sixth. Gibbs singled leading off, moved to second on Shane Kroker’s pinch-hit sacrifice bunt, and then Eric Angerer’s chopper to shortstop was misplayed, loading the bases. That set the stage for Anderson’s RBI-single through the right side and Ben Manlove’s eight-pitch bases loaded RBI walk.
Those runs provided Hopkins with a bit of cushion to work with. Unfortunately, that cushion evaporated quickly when he walked the leadoff hitter in the seventh and then surrendered a two-run homer. Still, Hopkins provided his usual solid start.
“Give Kagen credit for giving us six-plus innings,” said Taylor. “He’s been our Friday guy and we’re going to keep riding his right arm and long as we can.”
Martin came out of the bullpen and quelled the rally with three straight outs and the Coyotes managed only one baserunner over the final three frames.
The Wildcats quickly rebuilt their advantage in the bottom half of the inning and cruised on to victory. After Gibbs scored the first run of the frame on a wild pitch, McKay provided the big hit in the inning, a two-run single that gave the Wildcats their final 7-2 advantage.
"That's something we've been good at all year, getting back into the bullpen and throwing a punch after we give up some runs," said Taylor.
Chico State entered the tournament ranked No. 2 in the West, while Cal State San Bernardino is No. 5. Chico State improved to 37-14 with the win. Cal State San Bernardino dropped to 27-19 and will play in the tournament’s first elimination game Friday morning at 11.
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