CHICO – After struggling through a tough week at the Mizuno Tournament of Champions, the Chico State softball team is refocusing its attention on California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play and its quest to earn a spot in next month’s conference tournament. The Wildcats travel to southern California this weekend to take on Cal State San Bernardino in a four-game series that begins Friday with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader and concluding with a Saturday twinbill getting underway at 11:00 a.m.
Chico State enters the weekend 19-17 on the season and occupying fourth place in the CCAA standings with a 16-8 conference record. The Wildcats dropped six of seven in the Tournament of Champions, but since they were all non-conference contests, Chico State is still very much in the mix to be one of the four teams to reach postseason play with an invite to the CCAA Championship Tournament.
The ’Cats are batting a collective .271 on the season, averaging 3.6 runs and 7.4 hits per game. Desiree’ Gonzalez and Emily McEnaney are hitting .342 and .325, respectively, and have driven in nearly half of Chico State’s runs this season. Alli Cook is batting .311 on the year and is among the CCAA’s leaders in stolen bases with 17 swipes.
In the pitcher’s circle, the Wildcat staff has fashioned a team earned run average of 2.80. Alex Molina is 11-5 on the season with a team-high 69 strikeouts and 2.32 ERA, while Kayla McConnell has fanned 53 and posted a 2.42 ERA to accompany her five victories.
Cal State San Bernardino begins the week 13-29 overall and is tied for seventh in the CCAA with a 7-17 conference record. The Coyotes are coming off a 2-4 showing at the Tournament of Champions, with wins over two teams – Western Washington and Montana State-Billings – that Chico State lost to in the tournament. San Bernardino is 5-6 since snapping a 12-game losing streak back on March 25.
The Coyotes are batting .289 as a team, averaging 3.7 runs and 7.4 hits a contest. San Bernardino is led by senior infielder Alyssa Flores, who is third in the CCAA with a .412 batting average and is ranked in the conference’s top 10 in hits (51), home runs (seven) and RBI (37). Senior infielder Monica Ferguson is hitting a healthy .367, while senior outfielder Jamie Leffingwell has contributed three homers and 22 RBI to the Coyote attack.
Chico State and Cal State San Bernardino met just twice last season, with the Wildcats sweeping a rain-shortened series April 14 at University Softball Field. The Coyotes hold a slim 32-31 lead in the all-time series between the two teams dating back to 1983.
Fans can follow the action throughout the series on the internet via Live Stats, available on the Wildcat Athletics website.
CLICK HERE for Live Stats
