CHICO – For most of the day Friday, the Chico State softball team put it all together against one of the top-ranked programs in the nation. The Wildcats began their important four-game series with No. 12 Humboldt State by blending timely hitting, sure-handed fielding and clutch pitching to hold the heavy-hitting Lumberjacks without a run on only two hits through the first 10 innings of play. The 'Cats scored a resounding 8-0 victory in the opener, and took a 2-0 lead into the top of the sixth inning in the nightcap when Humboldt struck for a three-spot to snatch a 3-2 win and salvage a split of the doubleheader at University Softball Field.
 
Chico State's record now stands at 23-17 on the season and 16-14 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play. The Wildcats, looking to strengthen their No. 7 NCAA West Region ranking as well as fighting for one of the four berths CCAA Championship Tournament berths, remain in fifth place in the conference standings and actually lost a bit of ground to fourth place Cal State San Bernardino, which swept its series-opening doubleheader Friday in Southern California against Cal State Dominguez Hills. With the twinbill split, Humboldt State is now 37-11 overall and shares first place in the CCAA with Cal State Monterey Bay with a 23-7 conference record.

 

The Chico State offense was clicking on a warm Friday afternoon in the North State, piling up 16 hits on the afternoon. Courtney Brown collected four hits, including her third home run of the year, while Tori Zimmermann and Alli Cook posted three safeties apiece. In the pitcher's circle, Haley Gilham tossed a one-hitter in the opener, notching her fourth shutout and 15th complete game of the year to improve her won-lost record to 12-7 and lower her CCAA-leading earned run average to 1.73.
 
Game one of Friday's doubleheader was all Chico State. After Gilham wiggled out of a bases-loaded, one out jam in the top of the first inning, the Wildcats broke through in the bottom of the second as Cook singled home Bryann Lesovsky and Kelli Keefe followed with a two-run double to put Chico State on top 3-0.
 
While Gilham set down 11 consecutive Lumberjacks batters, the 'Cats widened their lead with four runs in the bottom of the fourth – Zimmermann delivered a two-run single, then Desiree' Gonzalez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force home Keefe. Lesovsky capped off the big inning with a sacrifice fly to left, plating Zimmermann to make it a 7-0 contest.
 
Gilham's no-hit bid was thwarted by a Breonna Bejaran double to lead off the Humboldt State fifth, but again the Lumberjacks failed to score. Brown put an abrupt end to the proceedings, leading off Chico State's half of the fifth with a no-doubter home run to left center, giving the Wildcats the 8-0 victory, snapping Humboldt State's 17-game winning streak and handing the Lumberjacks only their second shutout loss of the season.
 
Game two of the double dip saw Humboldt State's Katie Obbema and Brooke Langeloh of the Wildcats lock up for an entertaining pitcher's duel. Chico State broke the seal in the bottom of the third inning when Emily McEnaney singled home Katy Weger and Cook scored on a wild pitch later in the frame to put the 'Cats in front 2-0.
 
Langeloh made the lead stand up through five innings, allowing just one Humboldt State hit and at one point retiring 11 straight batters. The top of the sixth inning proved to be the difference, as Hanna Holland scored all the way from first on a single and three-base Wildcat error to put the Lumberjacks on the board. The very next batter vaulted Humboldt into the lead, as Tiffany Hollingsworth blasted a two-run homer to center – her conference-leading 15th of the year – to put the 'Jacks on top. Obbema did the rest, retiring Chico State in order in both the sixth and seventh innings to give Humboldt the 3-2 win and the doubleheader split.
 
Langeloh went the distance in the pitcher's circle for the Wildcats, posting her 11th complete game of the season, but was saddled with the hard-luck loss to dip to 10-9 on the year.  
 
Chico State and Humboldt State conclude their four-game set Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. It's also Senior Day, with a special pregame ceremony taking place at approximately 10:30 a.m. to honor Wildcat seniors Katy Weger, Courtney Brown, Marlee Rettig, Kelli Keefe and Emily McEnaney. In addition, Saturday is District 47 Little League Day, with teams invited to come out (preferably in uniform) to not only catch the afternoon's action, but also to receive commemorative Little League pins and take part in a special "meet and greet" autograph session with Wildcat players immediately following the second game of the doubleheader.