TURLOCK – The bats started out hot Sunday, but the Chico State softball team was unable to come up with the key hit it desperately needed in crunch time. The Wildcats let an early lead slip away and surrendered an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning to bow to Western Washington 3-2 in the Tournament of Champions' Gold Bracket semifinal game at Pedretti Softball Complex in Turlock.
Despite Sunday's loss, Chico State still turned in a successful weekend, winning four of its six Tournament of Championship games and finishing the weekend with an overall season record of 20-10.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as a two-out double by Desiree' Gonzalez plated Brynn Lesovsky and Emily McEnaney. Western Washington came right back to knot up the contest with single runs in the first and second inning.
Chico State had a chance to retake the lead in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with one out, but came away empty. Western Washington promptly broke the deadlock in its half of the fifth, combining a leadoff walk, a Wildcat error and an RBI groundout to push across the go-ahead run.
The Wildcats looked like they would tie the game in the top of the sixth, as Courtney Brown led off the inning with a walk, and pinch-runner Cailin Garmon was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Katy Weger. Western Washington pitcher Makinlee Sellevold dug down deep to turn the 'Cats away, striking out Ashley Huff and getting Alli Cook to ground back to the box to end the rally.
Chico State sent up the heart of its order to face Sellevold in the top of the seventh inning, but the Vikings' righthander set the Wildcats down in order to lock down Western Washington's 3-2 win and ending the 'Cats' tournament weekend.
Chico State pitcher Haley Gilham, who came on in relief in the third inning and surrendered the unearned run that proved to be the difference, was saddled with the loss to slip to 10-5 on the season.
Gonzalez, who finished the Tournament of Champions batting .588 and driving in 10 runs, went 2-for-3 Sunday to lead Chico State's six hit attack. Cook delivered an infield single – her 12th hit of the tournament – to extend her hitting streak to seven straight games. Both Gonzalez and Cook were named to the TOC All-Tournament Team.
Chico State returns to California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play next week, hosting UC San Diego in a four-game series with doubleheaders scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m.
