LA JOLLA – The Chico State softball team came tantalizing close to doing something the program had not accomplished in nearly a dozen years – sweep a series against UC San Diego. The Wildcats still came away feeling good about themselves, using a doubleheader split Saturday to take three of four from the No. 17 Tritons. The 'Cats blanked UC San Diego 3-0 in the opener at Triton Softball Field, but came up short in the nightcap by a final of 2-1.
 
The last time Chico State swept a softball series against UC San Diego was March 27, 2004, when the Wildcats won both ends of a two-game set in Southern California.
 
Saturday's doubleheader split moved Chico State to 10-6 on the season and 7-5 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). By salvaging the final game of the series, UC San Diego wrapped up the weekend 14-6 overall and 8-4 in conference play.

 

The Wildcats' offense was clicking all afternoon, pounding out a total of 19 hits. Alli Cook led the way with four safeties, with Desiree' Gonzalez, Rachel DeHart, Cyrena Taylor and Sarah Galaviz picking up three hits apiece.
 
In game one of Saturday's doubleheader, Chico State staked starting pitcher Brooke Langeloh to an early lead with a run in the top of the first inning when Gonzalez doubled home Cook. It was the 128th run batted in of Gonzalez' career, making her Chico State's career RBI leader.
 
Langeloh made the lead stand up, though UC San Diego threatened in each of first four frames only to leave six runners in scoring position.
 
Gonzalez delivered again in the top of the fifth inning, grounding a two-out single up the middle to chase home Cook and extend Chico State's lead to 2-0. The Wildcats plated an insurance run in the top of the seventh when pinch hitter Megan Bowley's bloop single to left plated pinch runner Cailin Garmon.
 
UC San Diego rallied in the top of the seventh, putting runners at second and third and getting the potential tying run to the plate with nobody out. Taylor came though with a defensive gem that short-circuited the Tritons' comeback attempt, charging in from her first base position to make a diving catch on a foul popup to retire the dangerous Kelsi Maday. Langeloh did the rest, getting Maddy Lewis to pop up to second and Emma Schneider to ground out to short to end it, locking down Chico State's 3-0 victory.
 
Langeloh (6-1) fanned five in recording her third complete game and second shutout of the season. The Wildcats produced a dozen hits in the contest, with Gonzalez going 3-for-3 while Cook, Taylor and DeHart collected two hits apiece.
 
In game two of the double dip, UC San Diego jumped in front with a run in the bottom of the first inning, but in the top of the second Chico State knotted up the score when Galaviz drew a two-out, bases loaded walk to force home Brynn Lesovsky.
 
The score was still 1-1 as the Wildcats used singles by Cook, DeHart and Taylor to load the bases with one out in the top of the fifth inning but came away empty. The missed scoring opportunity proved costly, as UC San Diego took the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Lewis tripled home pinch runner Kendall Woken.
 
Chico State's bid to tie the game in the top of the seventh was quickly snuffed out by Tritons pitcher Lexi Edwards, who set down the Wildcats in order to secure UC San Diego's 2-1 win and avoid the doubleheader and series sweep.
 
Wildcat pitcher Haley Gilham went the distance for Chico State, tossing her fifth complete game of the season, but took the hard-luck loss to fall to 3-3 on the year. The 'Cats actually outhit the Tritons 7-5 in the nightcap, with Cook and Galaviz each racking up two hits in the contest.
 
The Wildcats return home to University Softball Field next weekend to host the Cougars of Cal State San Marcos. The four-game series begins Friday with a doubleheader starting at noon, followed by a Saturday twin bill at 11 a.m.