Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 SEASIDE – Desiree' Gonzalez is currently in the midst of perhaps the biggest power display in the history of Chico State softball. Fresh off of belting five homers and knocking in 16 runs in last weekend's Tournament of Champions, the slugging first baseman delivered two more big flies and collected six RBI Saturday in the Wildcats' series-ending doubleheader with No. 4 Cal State Monterey Bay. Thanks to her eye-popping run production, the 'Cats came close to sweeping the twinbill, winning the first game 5-2 before bowing to the Otters in the nightcap by a final of 3-2.
With Saturday's split, Chico State is now 21-21 on the season and 14-14 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Wildcats remain in fifth place in the conference standings, a game behind Sonoma State. The 'Cats and Seawolves go head-to-head next weekend for an important four-game series at University Softball Field. Cal State Monterey Bay improved to 38-6 on the year and are tied for the top spot with UC San Diego in the CCAA with a 19-5 conference mark.
Gonzalez not only produced two round trippers – giving her 10 for the year, just one shy of Hailey Stockman's Chico State single season record – she posted four hits on the day to pace the Chico State offense. Emily McEnaney chipped in with three hits, while Tori Zimmermann and Sammi Ridgway provided two safeties apiece.
Game one of Saturday's doubleheader began as a pitcher's duel between Alex Molina of the Wildcats and Monterey Bay's Cori Reinhardt. Both teams were able to put runner aboard in the early innings, but neither could come up with the big hit to open the scoring. The 'Cats finally broke the seal in the top of the fifth inning, and they did it in a big way – Alli Cook put Chico State on the board when her infield single plated Scotie Walker, then two batters later Gonzalez crushed an opposite-field grand slam to right to put the Wildcats up 5-0.
Monterey Bay cut the deficit to three with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and threatened for more in the bottom of the seventh. But after a leadoff single, Molina stifled the Otters' comeback attempt by retiring the next three batters to end it and give Chico State the 5-2 victory. McEnaney had three of the Wildcats' nine hits in the contest; Molina (10-10) got credit for the victory while registering her 12th complete game of the season.
The 'Cats drew first blood in the nightcap, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Gonzalez singled home Kelli Keefe, but Monterey Bay answered with a run in its half of the frame to tie things up. Chico State's Cheyenne Sandoval matched Otters starting pitcher Lindsay Clarkson zero for zero until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Monterey Bay used a fielder's choice grounder by Reinhardt and an RBI single by Bianca Noriega to plate a pair and take a 3-1 lead.
The Wildcats trimmed the Otters' advantage to one in the top of the sixth inning, as Gonzalez again went big fly, bombing a solo homer over the left field fence. Chico State was able to get the tying run aboard with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Clarkson struck out Ridgway to end it, giving Monterey Bay the 3-2 win and the doubleheader split. Sandoval (3-4) pitched well, allowing just two earned run in 4.1 innings of work but was charged with the loss.
The 'Cats are back in action next Friday and Saturday at University Softball Field, hosting Sonoma State in the final home series of the season, with a possible postseason berth to be determined over the four-game set.
