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Box Score 2 CARSON – The day definitely did not start well for the Chico State softball team, but the Wildcats made sure they didn’t leave southern California empty handed. After losing both ends of Friday’s doubleheader against No. 11 Cal State San Dominguez Hills and dropping a 10-1 decision in the first game of Saturday’s twinbill with the Toros, the ’Cats rebounded in the nightcap, scoring three runs in the third inning and hanging on to post a series-ending 4-3 victory at Toro Diamond in Carson.
With the doubleheader split, Chico State moves to 3-6 on the season and 1-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State Dominguez Hills saw its 31-game home winning streak come to an end Saturday, but came away with an 11-3 overall record and a 3-1 mark in CCAA play.
In the first game of Saturday’s double dip, the Toros grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on RBI singles by Elizabeth Jimenez and Adriana Sanchez. Chico State got one of those runs back in the top of the fourth, when Desiree’ Gonzalez drilled her third home run of the year over the right-center field fence. Dominguez Hills took advantage of a two-out Wildcat error to plate three runs to extend its advantage to 5-1.
The Toros broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting the finishing touches on the 10-1 victory. Gonzalez had two of the four Wildcat hits in the contest; Kayla McConnell allowed just two earned runs in five innings of work, but was saddled with the loss to fall to 0-3 on the year.
Chico State’s fortunes were soon to change, but it didn’t exactly start out that way. Despite loading the bases in the nightcap’s opening frame, the ’Cats came away empty, and in bottom of the first the Toros got on the board courtesy of two walks, a Wildcat error and a Stephanie Hua sacrifice fly. Chico State tied the scored in the top of the second inning when Kelli Keefe plated Taylor Hanamaikai with a two-out single to left.
In the top of the third the ’Cats’ offense finally put it all together. A bases-loaded walk to Hanamaikai forced home Alli Cook to give Chico State its first lead of the series, and later in the inning pitcher Alex Molina helped her own cause with a two-run single to put the Wildcats up 4-1.
Now out in front, Molina retired nine straight Dominguez Hills batters before Hua doubled home Rachel Gulbrandsen in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it a 4-2 contest. Sanchez led off the Toros’ half of the seventh with a home run to right-center, and now nursing a one-run lead, Chico State Head Coach Angel Shamblin summounded McConnell from the bullpen. Dominguez Hills got the tying run to second base with one out, but McConnell came up big in the clutch, striking out Christina Chavez and getting Stephanie Jimenez to ground out to Emily McEnaney at third to end it, giving the Wildcats the 4-3 victory and the doubleheader split.
Molina got credit for the win to even her season record at 2-2, with McConnell notching her first save of the year. The Wildcats delivered seven hits in the victory, with Keefe and Cook collecting two safeties apiece.
Chico State returns to action next weekend for its first action of the season at University Softball Field. The Wildcats host San Francisco State for doubleheaders Friday and Saturday; both twinbills are scheduled to get underway at noon.
