Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 CHICO – After a rather rough weekend in San Diego, the Chico State softball team was in need of the type of on-field nourishment only good ol' home cooking can provide. Playing their first games of the season at University Softball Field, the Wildcats put it all together on their home turf Friday, combining effective pitching and productive hitting to sweep their series-opening doubleheader with visiting Cal State Stanislaus, beating the Warriors 7-2 and 4-1.
The victories moved Chico State to 5-6 on the season and 3-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State Stanislaus slipped to 5-8 overall and 2-4 in CCAA play.
Courtney Brown was one of the big hitting stars for the 'Cats Friday, collecting three hits – all for extra bases, including her first home run of the year – and driving in four runs on the afternoon. Desiree' Gonzalez collected four hits, including two doubles and two RBI. Emily McEnaney chipped in with three hits Friday, while Sammi Ridgway picked up a knock in both contests to extend her hitting streak to eight straight games. Chico State piled up a collective 19 hits in the doubleheader sweep, providing plenty of support for pitchers Alex Molina and Cheyenne Sandoval, who both posted complete game victories.
The Wildcats took command early in game one of the twinbill. Gonzalez doubled home a run and scored on an error in the bottom of the first inning, then later in the frame McEnaney knocked in Amanda Cordeiro with a single to right to give Chico State a 3-0 lead. An inning later Brown delivered an RBI double and scored on a Gonzalez base hit in the bottom of the second to extend the 'Cats' advantage to 5-0.
Molina battled her control in the circle, issuing six walks and hitting a batter, but was able to hold Stanislaus to just single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Brown provided some insurance in the bottom of the sixth – with Alli Cook aboard, Brown sent a line drive over the left field fence; her round-tripper putting Chico State back up by five. Molina retired the Warriors in order in the top of the seventh to lock down the 7-2 win and improve to 2-3 on the season. Brown, Gonzalez and McEnaney had two hits apiece to pace the Wildcats' nine-hit attack.
Chico State drew first blood in the nightcap of the double dip, as Alli Cook singled with two outs in the bottom of the third inning, promptly stole second and came home when Brown doubled off the left field fence. The Wildcats used Gabby Palmer's RBI double and a run-scoring single by Ridgway to go up 3-0 in the fourth inning, but Stanislaus answered with a run in the top of the fifth.
The Wildcats scored again in the bottom of the sixth, as Kelli Keefe's perfectly executed suicide squeeze plated Scotie Walker to help the 'Cats regain their three-run cushion. Sandoval provided the finishing touches by getting the final three outs in the top of the seventh inning to give Chico State the 4-1 win and the doubleheader sweep of Stanislaus. Sandoval scattered six hits in going the distance to improve to 2-1 on the season; Gonzalez and Cordeiro each went 2-for-3 as the 'Cats pounded out 10 hits.
The Wildcats wrap up their four-game series with Cal State Stanislaus with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. Fans unable to attend can follow the action with Live Stats via the Wildcat Athletics website.
