CARSON – The Chico State softball team took care of business in its regular-season ending series with Cal State Dominguez Hills – but the Wildcats will still have to wait a day to see if their four-game sweep of the Toros is enough to earn the fourth and final California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament berth. After downing Dominguez Hills twice on Friday, the 'Cats did it again Saturday, winning the opener 6-2 and then outslugging the Toros 11-10 in the rain-soaked nightcap at Toro Diamond in Carson. 
 
The two victories Saturday – extending its winning streak to five – moved Chico State to 28-18 on the season and 21-15 in the CCAA. The Wildcats finish their regular season schedule a half-game ahead of Cal State San Bernardino (27-23, 19-14 CCAA) for fourth place in the conference standings, but the Coyotes still have two games remaining vs. UC San Diego. San Bernardino, which swept the Tritons in its Saturday twinbill, needs to win both games of its Sunday doubleheader to edge out the 'Cats for the final CCAA Championship Tournament berth. If the Coyotes lose either game Sunday, Chico State advances to the conference tournament.

 

The Wildcat offense was hitting on all cylinders Saturday, with 27 hits spread out over the two games. Desiree' Gonzalez had two doubles and a home run among her four hits, with Ashley Huff also collecting four hits on the day. Alli Cook, Tori Zimmermann, Emily McEnaney and Brynn Lesovsky contributed three safeties apiece, with Courtney Brown, Kelli Keefe and Marlee Rettig each delivering a pair of hits.
 
Game one of Saturday's doubleheader saw Chico State score early and often. A bases-loaded walk to Lesovsky forced home Cook in the top of the first inning, then in the third the Wildcats erupted for a four-spot – Gonzalez knocked in Zimmermann with a single to left field, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Keefe. Brown capped off the productive frame with a two-run homer to center to put the 'Cats up 5-0. In the top of the fourth, McEnaney doubled and came around to score on a pair of wild pitches to extend Chico State's advantage to 6-0.
 
Wildcat starting pitcher Haley Gilham, was at the absolute top of her game through the first six innings. The true freshman retired the first 11 Toros batters she faced before Kaci McGinnis singled with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Dominguez Hills rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was far too little and far too late, as Gilham secured the final three outs needed to pin down the 6-2 victory and record her 17th complete game of the season.
 
In the nightcap, Chico State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, as Huff scored on a throwing error by Toros catcher Stephanie Hua on the front end of a double steal, then Cook came home from third on a McEnaney sacrifice fly. The 'Cats added another run in the top of the second when Keefe led off with a base hit and scored on Cook's RBI single to left field.
 
The Dominguez Hills offense came alive in the bottom of the second inning, knocking out Wildcat starting pitcher Brooke Langeloh by scoring four times to take a 4-3 lead. The Toros extended their advantage with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, but in the top of the fifth Chico State knotted up the contest 6-6 on three straight RBI doubles by McEnaney, Gonzalez and Lesovsky.
 
The 'Cats went back in front in the top of the sixth inning – Huff singled, stole second, went to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a passed ball to give Chico State a 7-6 lead. Zimmermann followed with an RBI single to plate Cook and scored on a double to left field off the bat of McEnaney. Gonzalez applied the exclamation point on the five-run uprising with a two-run homer to center, putting the 'Cats up 11-6.
 
Dominguez Hills refused to fold, as Alyssa Cruz-Fernandez bombed a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to pull the Toros to within 11-9. Dominguez Hills got the tying run to the plate with nobody out, but Cheyenne Sandoval came in from the Chico State bullpen to retire three straight hitters to get the Wildcats back into the dugout with a two-run lead.
 
After going down in order in the top of the seventh, the 'Cats went back on defense needing three outs to complete the doubleheader and series sweep. They got 'em, but it wasn't easy – a walk, single and Chico State error loaded the bases, and when Carly Mitchell coaxed a two-out free pass it forced home Alexandra Mootry to make it a one-run game. But Sandoval came through in the clutch, getting Jasmine Ruiz to fly out to right to end it, and the Wildcats held on for a wild 11-10 win. Gilham, the third of four Wildcats pitchers in the circle, got credit for the win to improve to 15-8 on the year, while Sandoval notched her second save of the season.
 
If the Wildcats end the weekend in fourth place, they'll be back in action next week as part of the CCAA Championship Tournament, taking place Friday through Sunday at Arnaiz Stadium in Stockton. Should Chico State not make the conference tournament, the 'Cats – currently ranked seventh in the West – will find out Monday, May 4 if it will be one of the eight West Region teams to advance to the May 7-10 NCAA Championship Tournament.