CHICO – When a pitcher takes the mound sporting an earned run average under 1.00, he has to deliver an extraordinary effort to bring that already impressive number down. That's exactly what Chico State righthander Luke Barker did Friday night, tossing eight innings of three-hit shutout ball, and aided by plenty of run support from his Wildcat teammates cruised to an 8-0 victory over Cal State San Bernardino in the opener of a four-game series at Nettleton Stadium.

 

The win snapped the 'Cats' four-game losing streak and improved Chico State's season record to 7-8, while evening the team's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) record at 6-6. Cal State San Bernardino dropped its third in a row to fall to 4-18 overall and 2-11 in CCAA play.
 
Barker struck out eight and walked just one in his fifth start of the year to push his record to 2-1 overall. He has now allowed just three earned runs while fanning 36 batters in 36 innings of work to lower his ERA to a miniscule 0.75. Chico State's offense pounded out eight hits on the night, with Connor Huesers going 3-for-3 and Dylan Garcia delivering a pair of safeties and two runs batted in.
 
The Wildcats made wasted little time in staking Barker to an early lead. Andrew Carrillo walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning and eventually scored on a wild pitch, then in the second a Jeff Ortega sacrifice fly and an RBI double by Cody Slader gave Chico State a 3-0 advantage.
 
The 'Cats utilized the long ball in the bottom of the third inning – with Danny Miller aboard, Tyler Madrid ripped his third homer of the year over the right field wall to extend Chico State's advantage to 5-0. Huesers followed with a double and came around to score on a base hit to right by Garcia.
 
That was more than enough for Barker, who during the middle innings set down 10 of 11 San Bernardino batters. The Wildcats made it 7-0 in the bottom of the fifth when Garcia doubled home Huesers, then in the seventh the 'Cats struck again as Madrid walked and scored all the way from first on a Huesers double.
 
Barker finished his night by tossing a scoreless eighth inning, then gave way to Torgen Soderlund, who induced a double play grounder off the bat of Aaron Owen with one out in the ninth to end the game and give Chico State the 8-0 victory.
 
The Wildcats and Coyotes collide Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at noon at "The Nett." Mike Baca will provide the play-by-play of both games locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM, with the broadcast simulcast on the Internet through the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and live streaming video will also be available online.