TURLOCK – One big inning. The Chico State softball team was on the giving and receiving end of offensive outbursts Friday, and that led to a split of its series-opening doubleheader with Stanislaus State. A Megan Bowley grand slam lifted the Wildcats to a 6-3 win in the opener, but the host Warriors put up seven runs in the second inning of the nightcap to clobber the 'Cats 10-4 at Warriors Softball Field in Turlock.
The doubleheader split left Chico State with an 18-10 overall record, but the Wildcats slipped to fourth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 15-9 conference mark. Stanislaus State moved to 16-13 on the year and 13-11 in CCAA play.
Chico State collected a total of 17 hits on the day, with Alli Cook and Cyrena Taylor racking up three safeties apiece. Bowley, Ari Marsh, Rachel DeHart, Desiree' Gonzalez and Sarah Galaviz each had two hits for the 'Cats. Bowley and Gonzalez combined to knock in eight of the Wildcats' 10 runs.
Chico State wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in game one of Friday's doubleheader. Gonzalez lined a two-out single to center in the top of the first inning to plate Cook and put the Wildcats in front, then in the top of the third Marsh doubled and scored on a Gonzalez fielder's choice.
Chico State pitcher Brooke Langeloh started strong, retiring the first nine Stanislaus batters she faced, but the 'Cats' 2-0 lead vanished in the bottom of the fourth inning when Ruby Quiralte bombed a two-out, three-run homer to put the Warriors in front.
The Wildcats used the long ball to jump on top in the top of the fifth, and they did it in dramatic fashion – with two outs and the bases juiced, Bowley belted the first home run of her Chico State career over the left field fence. The grand salami instantly put the 'Cats back in front.
Now with a three-run cushion, Langeloh did the rest, retiring nine of the final 10 Stanislaus hitters to give Chico State the 6-3 victory.
The Wildcats piled up 10 hits in the contest, with Cyrena Taylor going 3-for-4 and Bowley collecting a pair of safeties. Langeloh allowed just three hits and struck out seven to notch her sixth complete game and improve to 10-1 on the season. It was her 30th career win, putting Langeloh in a tie for seventh place all-time in career victories for a Chico State pitcher.
In the nightcap, the 'Cats drew first blood in the opening frame, as Marsh walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a single by Cook and scored on a Gonzalez foul out down the left field line. Stanislaus State answered in the bottom of the first, as Quiralte delivered a two-out RBI double to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead.
Chico State plated a pair in the top of the second inning on an RBI double by Marsh and a run-scoring single by DeHart, but the Wildcats' 3-2 lead was short-lived as Stanislaus exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the second to go up 9-3.
The 'Cats would not be able to recover. Stanislaus State added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Warriors' starting pitcher Karina Callazo kept Chico State off the scoreboard until Gonzalez doubled home DeHart in the top of the seventh inning, but it was far too little and far too late, as Stanislaus cruised to the 10-4 victory to earn a split of the series-opening doubleheader.
Haley Gilham started in the pitcher's circle for the Wildcats, but couldn't get out of the second inning and took the loss to fall to 7-7 on the year. Cook and Sarah Galaviz each had two hits to pace the 'Cats' offense.
The Wildcats and Warriors conclude their four game series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon. Fans can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live streaming video is also available online.
