Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHICO – Chico State’s Alex Molina picked the perfect time to deliver her first extra-base hit of the season, and the Wildcats’ starting pitcher – who also happened to be Alex Molina – was no doubt extremely grateful. After toiling in the pitcher’s circle for 12 innings, Molina’s RBI double was the game-winner as the ’Cats’ downed Cal State Monterey Bay 2-1 in the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader at University Softball Field. Despite a late Chico State rally, the Otters took the nightcap 5-3, but the Wildcats came away winning the series three games to one.

Though Chico State saw its seven game winning streak go by the boards, the Wildcats are now 18-11 overall and in sole possession of fourth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 16-8 conference record. Cal State Monterey Bay leaves Chico 19-16 on the year and 12-12 in CCAA play.


In Saturday’s opener, Molina and Monterey Bay’s Cori Reinhardt locked horns in an entertaining pitcher’s duel, with both hurlers wiggling out of several jams – the Wildcats and Otters combined to strand 27 runners in the contest. Chico State went up 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning when Kayla Barber singled, advanced to second on a throwing error by Monterey Bay catcher Nicole Pires, and scored on a two-out base hit up the middle off the bat of Brynn Lesovsky.

Molina held the Otter hitless through the first four frames, and worked out of a bases-loaded situation in the fifth to take the ’Cats’ 1-0 lead into the seventh. Monterey Bay, down to its final three outs, were able to tie the score by cashing in a leadoff double by Lauren Ermitano. Chico State got the potential winning run in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Alli Cook was left stranded at third to send the game to extra innings.

Molina and Reinhardt traded zeroes until the bottom of the 12th – the Otters stranding the bases loaded in both the 10th and 11th inning – when the Wildcats pushed across the game-winning run. Emily McEnaney drew a one-out walk and, with two away, scored all the way from first when Molina sent a line drive into the right-center field gap – her first double of the year giving Chico State the exciting 2-1 victory.


Game two of Saturday’s twinbill saw both teams with early chances to get on the scoreboard, but coming away empty. Monterey Bay put runners at second and third with nobody out in the top of the third, but the Otters essentially ran themselves out of the inning; the Wildcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the third but were unable to push a run across.

In the top of the fifth Monterey Bay finally broke the seal, utilizing three hits, two stolen bases, a walk, a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and a Chico State error to plate five runs and stake pitcher Lindsey Clarkson to a comfortable lead. The Wildcats broke through in the bottom of the sixth when Lesovsky doubled home Rettig and McEnaney, and closed to within two runs in the bottom of the seventh when Taylor Hanamaikai doubled, stole third and scored on an Otters throwing error. With McEnaney aboard, Molina came to the plate representing the tying run, but Clarkson got her to ground out to end the game, giving Monterey Bay the 5-3 win and the split of the doubleheader.

McConnell allowed just two earned runs in her complete game outing, but suffered the loss to fall to 4-6 on the year. Hanamaikai had two of the Wildcats’ eight hits in the contest.

Chico State hits the road next weekend, traveling to Turlock to take part in the 26-team Mizuno Tournament of Champions. The Wildcats play two games on Friday’s opening day of the tournament, taking on Central Washington at 5:45 p.m. and Western Washington at 8 p.m. The ’Cats will go head-to-head with Asuza Pacific, Saint Martin’s and Montana State-Billings on Saturday.