The sudden struggles the Chico State baseball team is scuffling through – namely poor relief pitching and defense – bit the Wildcats once again Sunday in a 7-6 loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills in 10 innings.
 
The Wildcats committed four errors and let a 4-3 lead slip away in their fourth loss in the past six games.
 
Chico State fell to 24-11 overall and 14-9 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Wildcats also slipped percentage points behind Sonoma State in the race for the North Division title.
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills is now 8-3 against the conference's preseason favorites. The Toros took three of four from UC San Diego, beat Cal Poly Pomona in a non-conference game, took two of three against Cal State Monterey Bay, and took two of three from the Wildcats this weekend. They're now 16-18 overall and 10-13 in the CCAA.
 
Cody Bistline had an RBI single, Cameron Santos singled and scored on a passed ball, Ben Gamba hit an RBI-grounder, and Sonny Cortez scored on Gamba's infield hit and the throwing error that followed as the Wildcats built a 4-3 lead through five.
 
Wildcats starter Dalton Erb left with that 4-3 lead, but the Toros struck quickly against Chico State's bullpen.
 
Torgen Soderlund started the sixth and did not retire a batter. His cause was not helped when the leadoff hitter reached on Tony Roque's error at shortstop. A bunt single, wild pitch, RBI single, and a 2-0 count to the next hitter signaled the end of Soderlund's day. AJ Epstein entered with none out, runners on the corners, and well behind in the count. His challenge pitch was doubled to left by the CCAA's leading hitter, Brady Conlan, giving the Toros the lead.
 
A sacrifice fly gave Cal State Dominguez Hills a 6-4 lead.
 
Chico State rallied in the ninth, however, to send the game into extra innings. Bistline reached on a strike-three wild pitch, Jimbo Pernetti worked a walk after falling behind 0-2, and then Cortez drew a walk to load the bases.
 
Santos' grounder to second plated one run and put the tying run on third with one out. Gamba drove him in with a long fly ball to center, and the game was tied.
 
However, the Toros punched across the winning run in the top of the 10^th against Steven Baker (4-4). Conlan crushed a one-out double and scored on Parker Hokuf's single to center.
 
Cody Snider walked leading off the bottom of the frame and moved to second on Josh Falco's grounder. But Dominguez Hills closer Anthony Cortez got Dallas Porter to fly out to center and struck out Bistline looking to end the game.
 
Dillon Kelley went 2-for-4 and was the only Wildcat with multiple hits Sunday. Cortez scored twice and Gamba drove in two runs.
 
The Wildcats will play 11 of their final 15 games on the road beginning with a three-game series next weekend at Cal Poly Pomona. They host Sonoma State for a four-game series April 22-24.