Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 McKINLEYVILLE – Not enough offense in game one, and not enough time to mount a comeback in game two. That, in a nutshell, explains the fortunes of the Chico State softball team Saturday, as the Wildcats dropped both ends of a series-opening doubleheader to No. 4 Humboldt State – losing the opener 2-1 on a walk-off hit and falling 6-4 in the nightcap despite a four run fifth inning.
The 'Cats slipped to 6-9 on the season with Saturday's losses and 4-6 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Humboldt State improved to 17-4 overall and 7-3 in conference play.
Sammi Ridgway enjoyed a standout Saturday at the plate, banging out five hits over the two games. Alli Cook, Emily McEnaney and Amanda Cordeiro all had two hits apiece, but the lack of clutch hits in big potential run-scoring situations extended Chico State's current losing streak to three straight.
Game one of Saturday's doubleheader played at McKinleyville High School saw the Wildcats jump out to an early lead – Ridgway doubled to lead off the contest and promptly scored when Cook singled to left. Humboldt State tied the game in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI double by Andrea Chavez.
Chico State starting pitcher Alex Molina battled her control, issuing four walks and two hit-by-pitches, but kept the explosive Lumberjack offense in check until the bottom of the seventh inning. With the score still tied, Alison McKibbon led off the frame with a double, then Tonya Walker delivered a one-out single to center to plate pinch runner Carly Perkins to give Humboldt the 2-1 victory. Molina tossed her sixth complete game of the season, but suffered the loss to fall to 3-4 on the season; Ridgway had two of the Wildcats' six hits in the contest.
The Lumberjacks threatened to make the nightcap a rout, scoring once in the first inning and twice in both the second and third to go up 5-0. Chico State came roaring back in the top of the fifth inning, plating all its runs with two outs – Briana Contreras reached on a fielder's choice that brought home Kelli Keefe; then Ridgway scored when McEnaney's base hit was misplayed by the left fielder. Cordeiro followed with a single to drive in Cook and Marlee Rettig to suddenly make it a 5-4 ballgame.
That would be as close as the 'Cats would get – a two-out error handed Humboldt a run back in the bottom of the fifth inning, and the Lumberjacks' game one starter Katie Obbema tossed a scoreless sixth and seventh inning to lock down Humboldt's 6-4 win and the doubleheader sweep.
The Wildcats and Lumberjacks wrap up the four-game set Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 9 a.m. Fans can follow the action on the Internet via Live Stats on the Wildcat Athletics website. A live Internet broadcast of the games is also available courtesy of KRFH Radio in Arcata.
