Box Score To state the obvious, the team that touches home plate the most is going to win a baseball game. It was the two times Azusa Pacific failed to touch home plate in the fifth inning Friday at Nettleton Stadium that proved to be the deciding factor in Chico State's rain-shortened 3-1 win.
In the top-half of the inning the Cougars loaded the bases with one out in a scoreless game. But Jordan Brower was ruled to have missed the plate on appeal after tagging up and jogging home on a long fly ball to left. That ended one of only two innings in which the Cougars got a runner in scoring position against Chico State starter Marcos Lara.
In the bottom of the fifth Chico State loaded the bases. With one out, Azusa Pacific second baseman Blake James' throw home pulled catcher Joe Huthsing's foot inches off the plate, allowing the game's first run to score and seeding a three-run rally.
Danny Miller followed with a sacrifice fly and Ruben Padilla singled home the third run.
The game was called three batter into the top of the seventh inning when the steady drizzle grew into drops rainwater saturated the entirety of the infield. The second game of the doubleheader was cancelled as well.
Lara went all six innings, allowing just one unearned run on four hits to improve to 2-0. He struck out three and issued one intentional walk.
Wildcats catcher Jake Bailey reached on catchers interference to start the Wildcats' fifth-inning rally. Cody Slader and Ryne Clark then reached on bunt singles to load the bases. With one out, Jeffrey Ortega hit a ground ball to second that James threw errantly as Slader slid home. Miller followed with a long fly ball to center to plate Clark. Padilla's sharp single through the right side extended his hitting streak to five games and brought Angerer home.
Chico State, winners of four in a row including all three games of the series against Azusa Pacific, improved to 4-1. The Cougars fell to 2-3.
Chico State, ranked No. 12 in the nation, will open the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) next weekend at UC San Diego. The series opener is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.
