SAN BERNARDINO – The Chico State softball has believed in itself since the first day of fall workouts, and with 10 wins in the last 11 games, the Wildcats are also making believers out of their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opponents. The 'Cats were in "taking care of business" mode as they wrapped up a four-game road sweep of Cal State San Bernardino, taking both ends of Saturday's series-ending doubleheader. The Wildcats topped the host Coyotes 8-3 in nine innings in the opener, then triumphed 4-1 in the nightcap.
 
Saturday's sweep stretched Chico State's current winning streak to six straight as the Wildcats improved to 16-6 on the season while moving into second place in the CCAA with a 13-5 conference record. Cal State San Bernardino, which had won seven in a row entering the series, slipped to 17-12 overall and 12-8 in CCAA play.

 

The 'Cats enjoyed another productive day at the plate, banging out 20 hits over the two Saturday contests. Ari Marsh racked up four hits, with Alli Cook, Desiree' Gonzalez, Cyrena Taylor and Brynn Lesovsky collecting three hits apiece. Lesovsky reached base seven times Saturday, with Gonzalez and Rachel DeHart each driving in three runs.
 
The Wildcats drew first blood in the opening game of the twin bill, as Lesovsky led off the top of the second inning with a home run to straightaway center field. Later in the frame Cailin Garmon scored on a Marsh sacrifice fly to give Chico State a 2-0 lead.
 
San Bernardino cut the 'Cats' lead in half with a run in the bottom of the second, but Chico State starting pitcher Brooke Langeloh held the Coyotes scoreless over the next four innings. The Wildcats went up 3-1 in the top of the seventh inning when a Briana Contreras sac fly plated Melanie Abzun, but San Bernardino, down to its final out, rallied to score twice in the bottom of the seventh to knot up things up at 3-3 and send the game into extra innings.
 
In the top of the ninth inning the Wildcats exploded for five runs to take command of the contest. A bases-loaded walk to Contreras forced home Taylor to put Chico State back in front, then Sarah Galaviz followed with an RBI single. Marsh delivered a sacrifice fly to center to drive home Garmon, and DeHart capped off the rally with a two-run single to balloon the 'Cats' lead to 8-3.
 
Haley Gilham, in relief of Langeloh, tossed a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning to lock down the Wildcats' victory and get credit for the win. Marsh had three of Chico State's 13 hits in the contest, with Lesovsky, Taylor and Cook picking up two safeties apiece.
 
In the nightcap, the Wildcats struck first, scoring twice in the top of the third inning. Marsh reached via a one-out single and eventually came home on a DeHart groundout. Gonzalez followed with a single to plate Cook to give Chico State a 2-0 lead.
 
The Wildcats added a run in the top of the fifth inning when Gonzalez launched a solo homer over the left-center field fence. San Bernardino got the run back in similar fashion, as Kaylee Gemmell went yard against Gilham to lead off the bottom of the sixth.
 
Chico State went up 4-1 in the top of the seventh inning when Cook singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored when Coyotes' catcher Jessica Brown's throw sailed into left field. The three-run lead was more than enough for Gilham, who retired San Bernardino without incident in the bottom of the seventh to wrap up the Wildcats' 4-1 win and secure the doubleheader and series sweep.
 
Gilham (7-3) gave up just a run on five hits en route to her eighth complete game of the season. Gonzalez had two of the Wildcats' seven hits in the nightcap.
 
The Wildcats get just a couple of days off before returning to action Tuesday and Wednesday, hosting CCAA leader and 4th-ranked Humboldt State for a four-game set at University Softball Field. Tuesday's series-opening doubleheader begins at noon, with Wednesday's double dip slated to get underway at 11 a.m.