SAN BERNARDINO – In recent years, things have not gone well for the Chico State softball team when playing in San Bernardino. The Wildcats went into Friday having lost nine of their last 10 decisions at Coyote Field, but Head Coach Angel Shamblin's squad wasn't about to add to that dubious historical fact. The 'Cats used both ends of the softball spectrum to take both ends of their series-opening doubleheader, outslugging San Bernardino 16-7 in the opener before shading the Coyotes in the nightcap 2-0.
 
Friday's victories extended Chico State's current winning streak to four straight and improved the Wildcats' season record to 14-6. The 'Cats also moved into a tie for second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with an 11-5 conference mark. Cal State San Bernardino saw its seven game winning streak go by the boards, falling to 17-10 overall and 12-6 in CCAA play.

 

Chico State had one of its most productive offensive showing of the season Friday, pounding out 17 total hits. Ari Marsh and Alli Cook led the way with three hits each with Desiree' Gonzalez, Cailin Garmon and Brynn Lesovsky contributing two knocks apiece. Marsh and Gonzalez racked up three runs batted in on the day; Cyrena Taylor smacked her second home run of the year and Garmon collected three stolen bases.
 
In game one of Friday's double dip, San Bernardino jumped out to an early lead when Amanda Herrera connected for a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. Chico State roared back with a six-run second inning: Lesovsky got the 'Cats on the board, scoring from third on a Garmon steal of second base. Garmon came home on an RBI single by Marsh to make it a 3-2 game, with Cook's two-run double plating Marsh and Briana Contreras to put the Wildcats in front. Rachel DeHart promptly singled home Cook and came around to score on a base hit by Gonzalez to give Chico State a 6-3 advantage.
 
The lead didn't last long, though, as San Bernardino answered with four runs in its half of the second inning to go back in front 7-6. The Wildcats knotted up the score in the top of the third when Garmon scored from third on a bunt single by Sarah Galaviz.
 
Chico State broke the game wide open in the top of the fourth inning. The Wildcats loaded the bases, then took an 8-7 lead when Garmon was hit by a pitch. Contreras followed with a two-run single; Garmon scored on a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Galaviz, and Marsh (two-run double) and Gonzalez (two-run single) capped off the eight-run rally to push the 'Cats' lead to 15-7.
 
Despite two rough innings, Wildcats' starting pitcher Brooke Langeloh righted the ship and held San Bernardino scoreless over the next three frames. Chico State added another run in the top of the fifth inning when Melanie Abzun scored on a pinch-hit single by Megan Bowley, and Langeloh shut down the Coyotes without incident in the bottom of the fifth to end it, giving Chico State the 16-7 victory.
 
Langeloh (8-1) earned the win and tossed her fifth complete game of the season. The Wildcats piled up 14 hits in addition to their season-high 16 runs.   
 
The nightcap was a complete 180 of the opener, as Chico State's Haley Gilham and Cassandra Williams of San Bernardino locked horns in a classic pitcher's duel. Chico State had the game's first legitimate scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth inning, as a walk, a Coyotes error and a single by Lesovsky loaded the bases with one out. Williams, however, short-circuited the rally by striking out the next two Wildcat hitters to wiggle out of the jam. Gilham, meanwhile, didn't allow a San Bernardino runner past first base through the first four frames.
 
Chico State got Galaviz to third base in the top of the fifth, but once again came away empty. San Bernardino threatened in the bottom half of the frame, putting runners at second and third with one out, but Gilham induced a comebacker and struck out pinch-hitter Kaitlyn Olan to turn the Coyotes away.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, the Wildcats would not be denied. Following a leadoff walk to Gonzalez, Taylor lined the first Williams offering over the right-center field fence, putting Chico State on top 2-0.
 
Now with a lead, Gilham tossed a 1-2-3 sixth inning, but San Bernardino was able to get the tying runs aboard with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Jessica Brown stepped up to the plate, but Gilham won the battle, striking out the Coyotes' top home run hitter to end the game, giving the Wildcats the 2-0 win and the doubleheader sweep.
 
Gilham (5-3) scattered four hits and struck out six on the way to recording her first shutout and seventh complete game of the season.   
 
The Wildcats and Coyotes wrap up the four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to get underway at 11 a.m.