CHICO – Twenty games into the 2015 season, the Chico State softball team will find out once and for all if it can be counted amongst the California Collegiate Athletic Association's (CCAA) elite. The Wildcats' next 16 conference games are against teams in the upper tier of the CCAA standings, and this weekend could be the team's biggest test yet as the conference leader comes to town. The 'Cats host No. 3 Cal State Monterey Bay in an important four-game series, with doubleheaders slated for Friday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at noon at University Softball Field.
Fans unable to attend the series in person can follow the action online. Live Stats and live streaming video will be available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
The Wildcats enter the weekend with an overall record of 13-7 and holding down fourth place in the CCAA with a 10-6 conference mark. Chico State is looking to bounce back from a disappointing weekend in Southern California, where the 'Cats dropped three of four to Cal State San Bernardino.
Chico State has played well at home this season, winning eight of 12 at University Softball Field.
Cal State Monterey Bay comes in riding an eight-game winning streak and sporting a 22-3 record on the season. The Otters sit atop the CCAA standings with a 13-3 conference mark, a half-game ahead of second place Sonoma State, one game better than Humboldt State and three games ahead of Chico State. Monterey Bay was a perfect 6-0 last week, taking both ends of a doubleheader against Dominican before returning to conference play over the weekend with a four-game series sweep against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
The Otters are a tough opponent wherever they play, having won 11 of 13 games on the road this season and 11 of 12 at home.
This weekend's matchup features two of the CCAA's top hitting teams. Monterey Bay leads the conference (and ranks fourth in the nation) with a collective batting average of .380 while averaging seven runs and just under 10 hits a game. Chico State is third in the CCAA with a .332 team batting average; the Wildcats average 5.9 runs and 9.2 hits a contest.
Both the Otters and Wildcats' pitching staffs have put up impressive pitching numbers as well. Monterey Bay leads the CCAA with a team earned run average of 2.14, while Chico State ranks third at 2.56.
One of the keys to the 'Cats' success will be minimizing the effectiveness of Monterey Bay senior Cori Reinhardt. The 2014 All-American is hitting .514 on the season and is a perfect 13-0 in the pitcher's circle, owning the CCAA's top ERA (1.30). Junior righthander Lindsey Clarkson, last season's West Region Pitcher of the Year, is 8-3 with a 2.85 ERA and is third among conference hurlers with 67 strikeouts.
In addition to Reinhardt, the Otters have several other hitters that pose a threat every time they step into the batter's box. Sophomore infielder Madison Casto (.514 BA, 4 HR, 27 RBI), junior designated player Bianca Noriega (.500 BA, 5 HR, 26 RBI) and senior infielder Alissa Greenhaw (.426 BA, 15 RBI) are all ranked among the CCAA's top 10 hitters.
Chico State features plenty of weapons in its lineup, with the hottest bats belonging to Emily McEnaney (sixth in the CCAA with a .426 batting average and leading the Wildcats with five home runs and 20 runs batted in) and Tori Zimmermann (.413 BA, 2 HR, 19 RBI). Brynn Lesovsky has been sizzling in March and is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak that has seen her hit .474 during that stretch. For the year, Lesovsky is hitting a robust .386 with a home run and 11 RBI.
Haley Gilham has been the Wildcats' most productive pitcher of late, winning four of her last five decisions and has allowed just two earned runs over her last 26 innings of work. The freshman enters the weekend 5-4 on the season and is sixth in the CCAA with a 2.32 earned run average. Brooke Langeloh (7-3, 2.91 ERA) remains Chico State's winningest pitcher.
Monterey Bay dominated the season series in 2014, winning five of six decisions against Chico State. The Otters have taken eight of the last 13 meetings between the two teams and hold a 23-22 edge in the all-time series with the Wildcats.
