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Box Score 2 CHICO – The Chico State softball team visited both ends of the spectrum Saturday in its series-concluding doubleheader with Cal State Stanislaus. With Alex Molina tossing a three-hit shutout to lead the Wildcats to a 2-0 win in the opener, the 'Cats were primed to complete a four-game sweep. The Warriors had other ideas, unleashing a 12-hit attack in the nightcap to take the finale 11-3 at University Softball Field.
By taking three out of four against Stanislaus, the Wildcats moved to 6-7 on the season and 4-4 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play. The Warriors left Chico 6-9 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
The Wildcats collected 11 hits on the afternoon, with Amanda Cordeiro, Tori Zimmermann and Kelli Keefe each recording a pair of safeties.
Molina was masterful in the opener of the double dip, retiring the first 10 Stanislaus hitters she faced – five via strikeout. Warriors starting pitcher Jessica Varady matched Molina zero for zero until the Wildcats broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning with what turned out to be the only runs of the game, as Brynn Lesovsky chased home Scotie Walker and Emily McEnaney with a two-out single to center field.
Stanislaus got the potential tying run to the plate in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but Molina (3-3) wiggled out of all three jams to lock down the Wildcats' 2-0 victory and record her second shutout of the season. Molina struck out eight and walked just two in going the distance for the fifth time in 2014.
Game two of Saturday's doubleheader was all Warriors. Chico State failed to score and left five runners aboard in the first two frames, allowing Stanislaus to take a 1-0 lead into the top of the third inning. The Warriors knocked out 'Cats starter Cheyenne Sandoval by posting a four-spot – highlighted by a Melissa Robles two-run homer off reliever Brooke Langeloh – to go up 5-0. The Wildcats answered in the bottom of the third – a McEnaney sacrifice fly and RBI singles by Keefe and Kayla Barber brought Chico State to within 5-3. Stanislaus, though, put up two runs in the top of the fourth, then took advantage of three Wildcat errors to score four more in the fifth to win going away 11-3 and salvage the series finale.
The Wildcats are back in action next weekend in Arcata, taking on the No. 1 team in the nation, Humboldt State, in a four-game series with doubleheaders slated for Friday and Saturday. Friday's twinbill is scheduled to get underway at 12:00 p.m.
