TURLOCK – Amidst an afternoon doubleheader full of tape-measure home runs, agonizing miscues and more anxious moments than anyone would care to admit, the Chico State softball team won ugly – not once, but twice – sweeping Stanislaus State Saturday at Warrior Softball Field in Turlock. The Wildcats downed the host Warriors 4-2 and 6-5 to take the four-game series three games to one and move up a notch into third place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings.
 
Saturday's doubleheader sweep moves Chico State to 20-10 on the season and 17-9 in the CCAA. The two weekend losses drops Stanislaus State to 16-15 overall and 13-13 in conference play.

 

The Wildcats' offense came through with 19 total hits on the day, with Cyrena Taylor leading the way with five safeties. Sarah Galaviz had four hits, with Alli Cook, Desiree' Gonzalez and Brynn Lesovsky chipping in with two apiece.
 
Chico State took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Ari Marsh walked and scored on a two-out single by Gonzalez. In the top of the third, with Gonzalez and Taylor aboard, Lesovsky ripped her third home run of the season over the left-center field fence to extend the Wildcats' advantage to 4-0.
 
Brooke Langeloh kept Stanislaus State off the scoreboard until the Warriors plated a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Stanislaus scored again and got the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth, but the 'Cats got back into the dugout with a 4-2 lead as Langeloh was able to wiggle out of the jam.
 
The Wildcats were still up by two in the bottom of the seventh when Stanislaus put runners at first and second with one out. The Warriors' late-inning rally crumbled when Brianna Martens flied out and Ruby Quiralte was called out for leaving second base early trying to tag up – the unconventional double play ending the game and giving Chico State the 4-2 win.
 
Langeloh struck out six in going the distance for the seventh time this year to raise her record to 11-1. She now has 31 wins as a Wildcat, putting her in a tie for sixth place for career victories in Chico State history.
 
The 'Cats collected nine hits in the game one victory, with Taylor and Galaviz each racking up a pair of safeties.
 
The second game of Saturday's double dip began as a pitcher's duel between Haley Gilham of the Wildcats and the Warriors' Karina Callazo. Stanislaus State opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the third inning, but Chico State drew even in the top of the fourth when Taylor doubled and came home from third on a Rachel DeHart sacrifice fly.
 
The 'Cats put a crooked number on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Singles by Galaviz, Cook and Lesovsky netted a run to put Chico State in front, and then Gonzalez cleared the bases with a three-run homer to left-center field. Taylor followed with a solo homer to right, and the Wildcats suddenly boasted a 6-1 lead.
 
The lead was far from safe, however. Stanislaus answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and one in the sixth to pull to within 6-5. With Langeloh on in relief for Chico State, Stanislaus got the tying run aboard in the bottom of the seventh, but like the first game a baserunning miscue spoiled the Warriors' late-inning rally. Quiralte was called out for runner interference on a grounder to second base, abruptly ending the game and giving the Wildcats the 6-5 victory and the doubleheader sweep.
 
Gilham went five-and-a-third innings to earn the win and improve to 8-7 overall, with Langeloh picking up her first save of the season. The Wildcats piled up 10 hits in the win, with Taylor going 3-for-3 with two doubles and a home run. Cook and Galaviz each delivered a pair of hits for the victorious 'Cats.   
 
Chico State returns to Turlock next weekend, kicking off April by taking part in the annual Tournament of Championships. Friday the Wildcats will be at Pedretti Park to face Notre Dame de Namur at 4:30 p.m. and Hawaii Pacific at 7 p.m. Saturday the 'Cats will square off against Chaminade at 4:30 p.m. and Academy of Art at 7 p.m. Sunday Chico State moves to the Turlock Sports Complex to wrap up the tournament, taking on Holy Names at 12:30 p.m. and Hawaii-Hilo at 3 p.m.