The preseason California Collegiate Athletic Association favorite Chico State baseball team hosts defending CCAA Champion Cal State Monterey Bay in a four-game series at Nettleton Stadium this weekend.

The action is scheduled to begin with a noon doubleheader (two nine-inning games) Saturday and concludes with an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Sunday.

This marks the first home conference game for the Wildcats, 10-3 and ranked No. 19 in the nation. They're 2-2 in the CCAA.

Cal State Monterey Bay is off to a slow start at 5-10 overall and 2-6 in the CCAA.

The Otters' issues – pitching and defense – have been the Wildcats' strengths thus far. Chico State leads the CCAA with an ERA of 2.42 and fielding percentage of .983. Cal State Monterey Bay has a team ERA of 4.81 – ninth in the conference. And though they're a respectable fifth in the conference in fielding percentage at .967, the Otters lead the league in passed balls and have allowed 15 stolen bases in 20 tries.

Chico State's offense showed signs of life in Sunday's 9-1 win against Academy of Art, but the Wildcats rank eighth in the CCAA with a team batting average of .260 and rank 10th in the conference in slugging percentage.

Cal State Monterey Bay, meanwhile, leads the league in extra-base hits (43) and stolen bases (26) and ranks third in team batting at .294.

MILESTONE WATCH
Eric Angerer is one bruise away from a CCAA record. Angerer was plunked for the 48th time in his career last weekend against Academy of Art, tying Cal Poly Pomona's Andre Gomez for the CCAA record…Starting pitcher Nick Baker's next start will be his 41st, the second most in school history. His next appearance will be his 47th, tying him with Nic Amanno and Ian Waldron for 10th most in school history…Baker's next win will e his 25th, moving him past Josh Osborn into sole possession of third place in program history, behind only John-Eric Hernandez (41 wins) and Bush Dalrymple (33)…Luke Barker needs three strikeouts to reach 100 in his career.