The Chico State softball team knew it would have its hands full this weekend, playing on the road against the top-hitting program in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and the 17th-ranked team in the nation. The Wildcats more than rose to the challenge Friday in their series-opening doubleheader against UC San Diego, as Brooke Langeloh and Haley Gilham held the Tritons to just five hits on the day, while timely hitting by the 'Cats produced more than enough runs to sweep the twin bill 4-1 and 2-1 at Triton Softball Field in La Jolla.
Friday's two victories improved Chico State's season record to 9-5 and moved the Wildcats to 6-4 in the CCAA. UC San Diego dropped to 13-5 overall and 7-3 in conference play.
The Wildcats collected 13 total hits on the afternoon, with Desiree' Gonzalez and Alli Cook notching three safeties apiece. Gonzalez also knocked in four runs, giving her 127 for her Chico State career and tying Emily McEnaney for the most RBI in Wildcat history.
Ari Marsh and Rachel DeHart each delivered a pair of hits for the 'Cats.
In game one of Friday's twin bill, Chico State jumped out on top with a run in the top of the first inning as Marsh led off the game with a double and scored on a two-out single by Gonzalez. After leaving the bases loaded in the second, the Wildcats struck again in the top of third, as Gonzalez scored all the way from first on Cyrena Taylor's opposite field double to put the 'Cats up 2-0.
Langeloh held UC San Diego in check through the first four innings, with an error accounting for the lone Tritons' baserunner. Langeloh battled her control in the bottom of the fifth, walking the bases loaded with one out. But the senior right-hander recovered to strike out McKenna Clewett and retire pinch-hitter Sam Glantz on a flyout to wiggle out of the jam and keep her no-hitter intact.
Chico State provided Langeloh with two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning, as Brynn Lesovsky knocked in Marsh and Gonzalez singled home Cook to make it 4-0.
Langeloh went back out to the pitcher's circle in the bottom of the seventh and retired the first two hitters she faced before Emily Sklencar broke up the no-no with a line single to left field. Clewett followed with an RBI double to spoil the possible shutout, but Langeloh promptly struck out pinch-hitter Erin Lipelt to end it, giving the Wildcats the 4-1 win.
Langeloh struck out seven in going the distance for the second time this season, raising her record to 5-1. She now has 25 career victories, tying Alex Molina for ninth all-time in Chico State history.
The Wildcats had seven hits in the contest, with Marsh and Gonzalez both going 2-for-3.
The nightcap featured a pitcher's duel between Gilham of the Wildcats and the Tritons' Lauren Brown. The 'Cats loaded the bases but came away empty in the top of the first inning, while Gilham held the Tritons hitless through the first three frames.
UC San Diego got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Kelsi Maday stole third and came home on a throwing error, but Chico State tied things up in the top of the fifth when a bases-loaded grounder by Gonzalez plated DeHart.
The Wildcats went out in front in the top of the seventh inning – Marsh reached on an error, went to second on a passed ball, moved to third on a bunt single by Cook and scored when Gonzalez grounded out to second.
Gilham made the lead stand up, retiring UC San Diego in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the Wildcats' 2-1 win and the doubleheader sweep.
Gilham (3-2) struck out a career-high seven batters in posting her second straight complete game victory.
Cook and DeHart each had two hits to pace the Wildcats' six-hit attack in the nightcap.
Chico State and UC San Diego wrap up the four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Fans can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live streaming video is also available online.
