For the first half of Tuesday's series-opening doubleheader against Humboldt State, the Chico State softball team displayed the total package that has led to a spectacular month of March. The second half, however, was certainly not up to the Wildcats' standards. After scoring a six inning, 11-3 win over the No. 4 Lumberjacks, the 'Cats committed four errors that led to two unearned runs as Humboldt State salvaged a split of the twin bill with a 3-1 victory.
Chico State saw its winning streak improve to seven straight before dropping the nightcap. The Wildcats now stand at 17-7 on the season and remain in second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 14-6 conference mark. CCAA leader Humboldt State moves to 14-2-1 on the year and 9-1 in conference play.
The Wildcats collected 10 hits on the day against the CCAA's top pitching staff. Sarah Galaviz led the offense by racking up three safeties, with Alli Cook posting a pair of hits.
The first game of Tuesday's double dip was a lot closer than the final score indicated. Humboldt State drew first blood in the top of the first inning thanks to a two-run home run by Julie Pena, and in the top of the second the Lumberjacks came within a whisker of going up 6-0 when Tiffany Hollingsworth just missed hitting a grand slam. Wildcats starting pitcher Brooke Langeloh was able to wiggle out of the jam, and Humboldt had to be content with an early 2-0 lead.
Chico State broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring seven times to knock out Lumberjacks starter Katie Obbema. With Galaviz aboard, Ari Marsh tied the score with her first homer as a Wildcat, a line shot over the right-center field fence. Later in the frame the 'Cats went up 3-2 when Brynn Lesovsky was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, then Cailin Garmon cleared the bags with a triple to center. Garmon would come home on a Briana Contreras steal of second base, and when the dust finally settled, the 'Cats had forged a 7-2 advantage.
Langeloh was able to keep Humboldt from scoring again until the top of the sixth inning, when the Lumberjacks loaded the bases with two outs. Haley Gilham came on in relief, but Hollingsworth greeted her with an RBI single to make it 7-3. That brought the potential tying run to the plate, but Gilham got Pena to hit into an inning-ending fielder's choice.
Chico State made sure that Humboldt would not get another chance to rally, as the Wildcats put the contest away with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Desiree' Gonzalez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force home Melanie Abzun, and after Galaviz scored from third on a passed ball, Cyrena Taylor singled through the right side to plate Gonzalez and Cook and end the game, giving the 'Cats the 11-3 victory.
Langeloh went 5.2 innings to earn the win and improve her season record to 9-1, while Gilham picked up her first save of the season.
In the second inning of game two, the Lumberjacks capitalized on two of four errors the Wildcats would commit in the contest to plate a pair and once again grab the early lead. Chico State scored what turned out to be its only run in the bottom of the third when Galaviz scored on a Rachel DeHart sacrifice fly, but Humboldt starting pitcher Maddie Williams held the 'Cats to just one hit the rest of the way.
The Lumberjacks added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, and Williams closed things out by retiring the Wildcats in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 3-1 win and the doubleheader split.
Gilham allowed just one earned run in going the distance for the 'Cats but suffered the hard-luck loss to slip to 7-4 on the year.
The Wildcats and Lumberjacks conclude the four-game series with a doubleheader Wednesday beginning at 11 a.m.
