In this topsy-turvy 2015 Chico State baseball season, one thing that has been consistent is this: When the Wildcats play good defense, they tend to win.
 
The Wildcats are 7-2 in games they've played error-free, and they are 11-5 when committing one error or none. On the flipside, the Wildcats are 1-9 when committing two errors or more.
 
With that in mind, Chico State will likely need to play strong defensively to have success in their upcoming four-game series at Cal State L.A., which begins Thursday at 6 p.m. The series continues with a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m. and concludes with a single game Saturday at 11 a.m.
 
Chico State enters the four-game set 12-14 overall and 11-12 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Wildcats are in sixth place and 4.5 games behind Cal State L.A. (19-9, 14-6 CCAA), Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Monterey Bay in the conference standings.
 
Those teams currently occupy the last three slots in the race for a top-four finish and CCAA Championship Tournament berth that goes with it.
 
Fortunately for the Wildcats, their defense has really come around since a brutal start in which they committed 22 errors in the first 12 games, very uncharacteristic for a team that tends to finish among the nation's top programs in fielding percentage.
 
They've righted the ship of late, committing just 12 errors in their last 14 games, to move all the way up to fourth in the conference in fielding percentage at .965. And the Wildcats have committed one error or fewer in each of their past nine victories.
 
Cal State L.A., meanwhile, ranks last in the CCAA in fielding percentage at .953, having committed 48 errors, which is 13 more than Chico State has made.
 
Thursday and Saturday's games will be broadcast locally on AM-1290 KPAY with Mike Baca on the call. All four games will be streamed via the Wildcat Webcast link at www.chicowildcats.com. Links to live stats and streaming video will be accessible via the calendar section of the homepage and baseball schedule page.