CHICO – The Chico State softball team is loving life these days…and who can blame them? The offense has been consistently productive and the pitching extremely effective, resulting in an impressive five-game winning streak and the program's best start in years. The Wildcats continued to rack up the "W's" Friday, taking both ends of their series-opening doubleheader with San Francisco State, beating the Gators 4-1 and 10-4 at University Softball Field.
 
The two victories upped Chico State's season record to 8-2 and a share of first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 5-1 conference mark. San Francisco State saw its current losing streak extend to 12 games as the Gators dipped to 1-13 overall and 0-10 in CCAA play.

 

The Wildcat had several players step up at the dish, with Emily McEnaney leading the charge. The senior shortstop collected four hits on the day – three of them doubles – and drove in four runs, while Tori Zimmermann hit safely in both contests to extend her current hitting streak to 10 straight. Ashley Huff had three safeties and has now hit in six straight games, with Marlee Rettig and Desiree' Gonzalez contributing three hits to the 'Cats' attack.
 
Brooke Langeloh started in the pitcher's circle for the Wildcats in game one of Friday's double dip and posted her third complete game of the season, scattering six hits and striking out four to improve to 6-0 on the year. The Gators broke through with a run in the top of the third inning, but Langeloh held San Francisco State to just two hits the rest of the way. The Wildcats jumped on top in the bottom of the third when Zimmermann plated Huff from third base on an infield single and scored on McEnaney's double to left. Gonzalez immediately followed with a double to drive home McEnaney, giving Chico State a 3-1 lead.
 
The 'Cats added some insurance in the bottom of the fourth inning when Rettig doubled and eventually came home on an Alli Cook sacrifice fly, and that would be all the offense Langeloh would need to lock down the 4-1 Wildcat win.
 
It was all Chico State in the nightcap – after missing a chance to score in the opening frame, the Wildcats exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the second inning. Huff got the 'Cats on the board with an RBI single to left, then with Zimmermann at the plate, Rettig scored from third on a wild pitch. McEnaney promptly doubled off the right field fence to plate a pair, and a San Francisco State error led to another Chico State run. Brynn Lesovsky capped the big inning with a three-run double to extend the Wildcats' advantage to 8-0.
 
The Gators answered with three runs in the top of the third inning, but the 'Cats went up 10-3 in the bottom of the fourth courtesy of back-to-back RBI doubles by McEnaney and Gonzalez. San Francisco State managed to push a run across in the top of the sixth, but it was far too little and far too late, as Wildcat starting pitcher Haley Gilham tossed a scoreless seventh inning to put the finishing touches on Chico State's 10-4 win and complete the doubleheader sweep. Gilham went the distance to record her first victory as a Wildcat and raise her season record to 1-2.
 
Chico State and San Francisco State conclude the four-game set with another doubleheader Saturday. Originally slated to start at noon, the twinbill has been moved up an hour in anticipation of possible wet weather. The first pitch is now scheduled for 11 a.m. at University Softball Field.