ALAMEDA – Clayton Gelfand and three relievers combined on a four-hitter as the Chico State baseball team opened a three-game series against Holy Names University with a 3-0 victory Friday night at the College of Alameda.
 
Gelfand allowed three hits and struck out six in five and two-thirds, Stuart Bradely struck out three in a perfect inning and a third, AJ Epstein retired the only two hitters he faced, and Hunter Haworth struck out two in the ninth for his second save.
 

The Wildcats got only two hits themselves, both off the bat of Sonny Cortez, but took advantage of an error, wild pitch and passed ball to score twice in the sixth, getting all the runs they would need.
 
Cameron Santos reached on a two-out error, and after Ben Gamba drew a walk, the baserunners advanced on a double steal. Santos scored on a wild pitch and Gamba scored on a passed ball.
 
The Wildcats tacked on a run in the eighth when Cortez doubled, stole third, and scored on Dillon Kelley's bunt.
 
Chico State is now 8-2, while Holy Names fell to 2-9.
 
Gelfand improved to 2-1 and lowered his ERA in four starts to 0.73. The Wildcats have pitched a shutout in three of those four starts.
 
Chico State's pitching staff has now allowed two or fewer runs in six of 10 games and boast a team ERA of 2.15.
 
Santos now has seven steals on the season and Cortez, who is hitting .389, has stolen six.
 
The series concludes with a doubleheader Saturday at 11 a.m.