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Box Score 3 TURLOCK – The 2014 season didn't open exactly as planned Saturday for the Chico State softball team. The Wildcats scuffled offensively, couldn't avoid the big inning and experienced just plain bad luck in the first day of the Best of the West Invitational at Pedretti Park in Turlock. The 'Cats dropped three games on the day, bowing to Cal State San Marcos 8-0, losing a tough 2-1 decision to Cal State Monterey Bay and falling to San Francisco State 5-0.
Amanda Cordeiro, Tori Zimmermann and Alli Cook each had two hits on the afternoon, with Courtney Brown and Sammi Ridgway both picking up their first career hits as Wildcats. Senior pitcher Alex Molina appeared in two of the three games Saturday, allowing just one earned run in nine-and-two-thirds innings of work.
In the day's first game, Chico State managed only two hits – second inning singles by Ridgway and Desiree' Gonzalez – against Cal State San Marcos starting pitcher Katie Wilkinson, but could not generate any run production. Ariel De Trinidad, making her Wildcat debut in the pitcher's circle, started well, holding the 8th-ranked NAIA team in the nation scoreless through the first two frames, but the Cougars broke through for two runs in the third, then broke the game open with four more in the fourth. San Marcos added two more runs off 'Cats' reliever Cheyenne Sandoval in the top of the fifth, and Cougars reliever Hayley Davis hung a zero on Chico State in the bottom of the inning to wrap up the 8-0 win.
The Wildcats took on CCAA rival Cal State Monterey Bay in Saturday's second game, and an RBI single by Cori Reinhardt in the top of the first inning staked the Otters to a 1-0 lead. Chico State knotted up the contest in the bottom of the frame when Cook singled and came around to score on a fielder's choice.
A two-out single by Bianca Noriega plated Brianne Hollon in the top of the third inning to put Monterey Bay back on top 2-1, and Otters starter Reinhardt made the lead stand up. The Wildcats had their chances to pull even, but stranded the potential tying run in scoring position in the third, fourth, sixth and seventh innings, allowing Monterey Bay to hold on for the 2-1 win.
Chico State's offense struggled in Saturday's final contest, as the Wildcats were held to just three hits as San Francisco State blanked the 'Cats 5-0. The Gators broke open a scoreless game with three runs in the bottom of the third inning, followed by two more in the fourth off Wildcat starter Brooke Langeloh.
The Wildcats conclude the Best of the West Invitational Sunday with a 10:15 a.m. game against Holy Names, followed at 12:30 p.m. with a matchup against Dominican.
