With half of last weekend's home series against Cal State San Marcos rained out, the Chico State softball team is itching to get back between the chalk lines and get some innings – and important conference games – under its belt. The Wildcats will get that chance this weekend as they hit the road to take on Cal State San Bernardino, currently one of the hottest teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The 'Cats and Coyotes kick off their four-game series Friday with a 10 a.m. doubleheader, followed by an 11 a.m. double dip on Saturday.
Fans can follow the action online with Live Stats through the Wildcat Athletics website.
Chico State enters the series 12-6 on the season and occupying fifth place in the CCAA standings with a 9-5 conference record. The Wildcats have won six of their last seven games, including both ends of their March 4 doubleheader against Cal State San Marcos before rain wiped out the final two games of the series at University Softball Field.
Cal State San Bernardino has been even hotter, heading into the weekend having won seven straight and nine of the last 10 to boast a 17-8 overall record. The Coyotes sit in second place in the CCAA with a 12-4 conference mark. Last weekend San Bernardino swept a four-game road series against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Chico State is 5-3 on the road this season, while San Bernardino is 7-5 on its home diamond, Coyote Field.
The 'Cats are currently hitting .281 as a team, averaging 4.2 runs and 7.4 hits a game. The Chico State pitching staff is second in the CCAA in team earned run average (2.26) and opposing team batting average (.207) while ranking third in strikeouts (99).
Individually, Desiree' Gonzalez is 10th in the CCAA batting race (.385) and is 11th among conference players in runs batted in (14). Alli Cook continues to be one of the CCAA's top base stealers and is tied for fourth in the conference with nine swipes on the season.
In the pitcher's circle, Brooke Langeloh leads the CCAA in opposing batting average (.157) and shares the conference top spot with three shutouts. The senior righty is also third in wins (7), third in strikeouts (59) and sixth in ERA (1.66).
Cal State San Bernardino possesses one of the most potent offenses in the CCAA. The Coyotes are batting a collective .322 on the year, averaging 6.1 runs and 8.9 hits a contest. San Bernardino's pitching staff leads the conference in strikeouts (124) and is seventh among the 11 CCAA teams with a 3.54 ERA.
San Bernardino features the reigning CCAA Player and Pitcher of the Week. Freshman outfielder Morgan Ratliff is hitting a robust .407 on the year with two home runs and 19 RBI. Junior lefthander Cassandra Williams, who twirled a no-hitter last weekend against Dominguez Hills, sports a 12-4 record, a conference-high 99 strikeouts and a 2.13 ERA. Sophomore catcher Jessica Brown leads the CCAA with six homers and 22 RBI.
The Coyotes took three of four from the Wildcats last season in San Bernardino and since 1983 are 41-34 against Chico State. The Wildcats have dropped nine of their last 10 at Coyote Field.
