CHICO – The Chico State softball teams takes a welcome break from the grind of conference action this weekend, but the Wildcats will still have some important business to attend to when they take part in the Cal State Stanislaus-hosted Tournament of Champions (TOC), presented by the Turlock Convention and Visitor's Bureau. The 'Cats will be trying to erase the sour memory of last year's TOC results, which saw Chico State lose six of its seven tournament games at Pedretti Park in Turlock.
  
Chico State heads into 13th edition of the TOC with a 17-14 record on the year, but the Wildcats have dropped three of their last decisions since reeling off an eight-game winning streak in early March. Last weekend the 'Cats split a four-game set with Cal State San Bernardino at University Softball Field, leaving Chico State in fifth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 13-11 conference mark.
 
Head Coach Angel Shamblin is hoping a good performance in this weekend's TOC will provide the Wildcats with some momentum heading into the final three conference series of the regular season. Chico State will face No. 16 Cal State Monterey Bay, Sonoma State and Cal State East Bay in its bid to finish among the conference's top four teams and reach the CCAA Championship Tournament.
 
The Wildcats boast a .282 team batting average on the eve of the TOC, averaging 3.7 runs and 6.9 hits a game. The Chico State pitching staff has posted a solid 3.18 earned run average through the first 31 games of the season.
 
Here are thumbnail overviews of the Wildcats' scheduled TOC opponents:
 
Montana State-Billings is 9-14 on the year and in fifth place in the GNAC with a 4-10 conference record. The Yellowjackets have lost four in a row heading into the tournament, but have put up some impressive numbers, batting .301 as a team and averaging 4.3 runs and 8.3 hits a game. The Montana State-Billings pitching staff has a team ERA of 5.55.
 
The Yellowjackets beat Chico State 2-1 in last year's TOC, but the Wildcats hold the edge in the all-time series between the two teams, winning three of five.
 
Western Oregon in on a hot streak entering the TOC. The Wolves have won five straight and 15 of their last 16 to surge to the top of the GNAC standings (13-1 in conference play) and improve to 22-11 on the season. Western Oregon features consistent production on offense (.325 team batting average, 6.5 runs and 9.4 hits a game) and efficient pitching (3.30 team ERA).
 
Last season the Wolves outslugged the Wildcats 9-5 in the TOC Consolation Bracket game. Chico State leads the all-time series, 7-2.
 
Central Washington is 15-10 on the year and in fourth place in the GNAC with an 8-6 conference record. The Wildcats have lost three straight heading into a scheduled Wednesday doubleheader against Cal State Monterey Bay. Central Washington is hitting .301 as a team, averaging 4.6 runs and 8.5 hits a game, while the Wildcat pitching staff has posted a sterling 2.87 ERA.
 
Central Washington got the best of Chico State in last year's TOC, beating Chico State 6-2. Chico State holds the edge in the all-time series of Wildcat teams, leading 15-10.
 
Simon Fraser has struggled so far this season, coming into TOC play. The Clan is 2-21 overall and sitting in last place in the GNAC with a 2-12 conference record. Simon Fraser suffered through a 19-game losing streak to start the year before finally getting into the win column with a doubleheader sweep of Northwest Nazarene on Mar. 21. The Clan sports a .282 team batting average, and produce 3.3 runs and 7.4 hits a game. The Simon Fraser pitching staff's team ERA is a high 7.23.
 
Saturday afternoon's contest will mark the first time Chico State and Simon Fraser have met on the softball field since 2001. The Wildcats hold a 4-3 lead in the all-time series.
 
Western Washington is another hot team heading into the TOC. Prior to a scheduled pre-tournament game Thursday against Sonoma State, the Vikings are in the midst of a six-game winning streak to raise their record to 17-8 and move into third place in the GNAC standings with a 9-5 conference mark. Western Washington is a power-hitting team that likes to run, batting a collective .366 while averaging 7.1 runs and 10.7 hits a game. The Vikings' pitching staff has also put up a sparkling 2.60 team ERA.
 
Western Washington downed Chico State 8-1 last year at the TOC. All-time, the Wildcats have beaten the Vikings in 14 of their 22 meetings.
 
Chico State, playing in its 12th Tournament of Champions, holds an all-time record of 37-30 in the event.