Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHICO – The Chico State softball team is playing its best ball of the season, but the Wildcats will be the first to admit they still have a few things to work on. Like getting the final three outs in regulation, for instance. The Wildcats let three seventh inning leads get away in their weekend series with Humboldt State, but fortunately it only burned them once, as the ’Cats took three of four from the visiting Lumberjacks. After sweeping Friday’s doubleheader, Chico State dropped a 2-1 decision in 11 innings in the opener of Saturday’s twinbill, but pushed across the game-winner in the eighth frame of the nightcap to win 4-3 for a split of the double dip at University Softball Field.

The Wildcats now stand at 9-8 on the season, and own a share of fourth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 7-5 conference record. Chico State did an effective job of neutralizing a potent Humboldt State offense, limiting the Lumberjacks to just six runs the entire series. Humboldt State left Chico with a 9-8 record on the season and 5-3 in CCAA play.


Kayla McConnell turned in another outstanding performance in the pitcher’s circle in the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader, tossing all 11 innings and allowing just two runs. Chico State could not provide her with enough run support to post the “W,” though the ’Cats staked McConnell to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Gonzalez stroked a two-out single up the middle to plate Alli Cook. The lead held up until the top of the seventh when Humboldt pulled even on an RBI single by Hannah Williams.

McConnell and Lumberjacks starting pitcher Katie Obbema traded zeroes until the top of the 11th when Williams delivered again, this time with a solid single to center to knock in Chrissy Stalf. Thanks to a two-out double by Taylor Hanamaikai, Chico State got the potential tying run to second base in the bottom of the 11th, but pinch hitter Alex Molina lined out to third to end it, and Humboldt State came away with the 2-1 victory. McConnell was saddled with the tough-luck loss to dip to 2-5 on the year; Gonzalez, Hanamaikai and Emily McEnaney each had two hits to lead the Wildcats’ eight hit attack.

The ’Cats opened the scoring in the nightcap on a bizarre play in the bottom of the second inning. With one out and the bases loaded, Amanda Cordeiro slapped a sinking liner to left. Dani Randall couldn’t make the catch, but she alertly pounced on the ball and fired it to second base to force out Brynn Lesovsky. The ball was quickly thrown home to beat Gonzalez advancing from third, but she was not tagged by Lumberjacks catcher Courtney Hiatt. With the force at the plate taken away by the putout at second, Gonzalez was ruled safe, and Chico State took a 1-0 lead.

Molina held Humboldt State hitless into the fifth inning, but Stalf put Humboldt State ahead with a two-out, two-run double. The Wildcats came back with two in their half of the fifth, as Keefe was chased home on Gonzalez’ long homer to left. The score was still 3-2 in the top of the seventh when, with two outs, Tonya Walker delivered an RBI single to get the Lumberjacks even. But this time Chico State would not fall victim to losing the late lead, winning the game in the bottom of the eighth – with two outs, Keefe sent a looping ball to left field that fell in between Humboldt’s left fielder Randall and shortstop Cyndi Chavez, allowing pinch runner Kayla Barber to score from second and give the Wildcats the 4-3 victory and the series win.

Molina tossed all eight innings for Chico State, racking up her fifth complete game of the season and improving to 6-2 on the year. The Wildcats had 11 hits in the win; Keefe finished the game 3-for-5, with Gonzalez and Lesovsky picking up two hits apiece.

Chico State will be back in action next weekend, hitting the road to take on Cal State Stanislaus in Turlock. The four-game series includes doubleheaders Friday and Saturday starting at noon each day.