Relief pitching and defense had been two of the Chico State baseball team's strengths during their 10-2 start. But the Wildcats scuffled in both facets Friday in an 8-5 loss to 16
th-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay in the California Collegiate Athletic Association opener for both teams at Nettleton Stadium.
The bullpen surrendered three runs and the defense committed three errors as Chico State fell to 10-3 overall and 0-1 in the CCAA.
Jimbo Pernetti, who went 2-for-4 and drove in a run with this base hit,
is now hitting .409.Kevin Davidson and Hayden Duerr had three hits apiece for Cal State Monterey Bay, which improved to 12-1 overall and 1-0 in the CCAA. Otters starter Gabe Katich (2-1) pitched into the eighth, and Drew Kozain got the final four outs for his first save.
Clayton Gelfand took the loss for Chico State, dipping to 2-2 despite a 1.15 ERA. Gelfand gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits in six and two-thirds.
The Wildcats led 2-0 after an RBI double by Josh Falco and Jimbo Pernetti's run-scoring single in the second.
But the Otters got a run back in the fourth and then Davidson tied the game in the sixth with his fifth home run of the season.
Cal State Monterey Bay took the lead for good with a run in the seventh, aided by Gelfand's throwing error. They tacked on two more runs in the eighth to stretch the lead to 5-2.
But the Wildcats would not go quietly. Sonny Cortez started a two-run rally in the eighth with a one-out bunt single and scored on Ben Gamba's RBI-grounder. They tacked on another run on a throwing error and loaded the bases with two down when Cody Snider singled and Cameron Santos walked.
But Josh Falco grounded into a fielders' choice to end the threat with the Wildcats trailing 5-4.
The Otters added three runs on one hit and two errors in the ninth.
The Wildcats got a run in the bottom-half of the inning on Jerrett Maas' RBI single, but could not manage any more damage.
Pernetti finished 2-for-4 with a run and RBI to lead the Chico State offense. He's now hitting .409 on the season.
The series continues with a doubleheader Saturday at 11 a.m. and concludes with a single game Sunday at noon.
