ROHNERT PARK – A season-defining series for the Chico State softball team got off to a rough start Friday at Seawolf Diamond in Rohnert Park. The Wildcats could not take advantage of fine pitching performances by Haley Gilham and Brooke Langeloh, mustering just one run and seven hits on the afternoon as host Sonoma State took both ends of the four-game set's opening doubleheader, topping the 'Cats by scores of 4-1 and 1-0.
Friday's losses dropped Chico State to 21-15 on the year and into a tie with Cal State Dominguez Hills for fifth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 14-12 conferece record. The doubleheader sweep improved Sonoma State's season record to 30-13 and 17-8 in CCAA play.
Alli Cook was the lone Wildcat to enjoy a multi-hit day with three safeties on the afternoon.
Sonoma State wasted little time staking their starting pitcher Amanda Llerena to a lead, plating three first inning runs against Gilham. The Seawolves scored again in the bottom of the fourth to go up 4-0, while the Wildcats didn't register their first hit until Cook delivered an infield single in the top of the fourth.
The 'Cats used back-to-back singles by Cook and Tori Zimmermann and a Sonoma State error to get on the board in the top of the sixth inning, but Llerena retired five of the last six Chico State batters she faced to lock down the Seawolves' 4-1 win. Gilham allowed just one run after her shaky first inning en route to her 13th complete game of the season, but suffered the loss to dip to 10-7 on the season. Cook had two of four Wildcat hits in the opener.
Langeloh stepped into the pitcher's circle for the 'Cats in the nightcap, and tossed a pair of scoreless innings before Keeley Ray delivered a two-out, bases-loaded singles in the bottom of the second to give Sonoma State a 1-0 lead. Chico State had a chance to knot up the contest in the top of the third when Katy Weger led off with a single and reached third base with only one out, but Seawolves pitcher Mayleen Mazon retired Kelli Keefe on a grounder to short and struck out Zimmermann to end the threat.
Langeloh kept Sonoma State from extending its lead, wiggling out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Chico State offense could not capitalize, however, as Mazon retired 12 of the last 13 Wildcat hitters she faced. The 'Cats went down in order in the top of the seventh, giving Sonoma State the 1-0 victory and the doubleheader sweep.
Langeloh went the distance for the Wildcats, allowing just one unearned run on three hits while striking out six, but took the loss to see her season record slip to 10-7. Chico State was held to just three hits in game two, with Cook, Zimmermann and Weger collecting the only safeties.
The Wildcats and Seawolves conclude their four-game series with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon.
