TURLOCK – It wasn't that long ago that Angel Shamblin was named Head Coach of the Chico State softball team, but in less than seven years she's piloted the program to a number of memorable successes, including three 30-win seasons and four trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament. Saturday Shamblin enjoyed success of a more personal nature – as a result of the Wildcats' 7-1 win over Chaminade and 4-1 victory against Academy of Art during second day action at the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, Shamblin became just the third softball coach in Chico State history to notch 200 career victories.
 
Saturday's wins gives Chico State a perfect 4-0 record through the first two days of the Tournament of Champions and extended the Wildcats' current winning streak to six straight. The two victories also raised the 'Cats record to 24-10 on the season.

 

The Wildcats tallied 20 total hits, with Ari Marsh finishing with five knocks on the day. Cyrena Taylor contributed four hits and four runs batted in; Rachel DeHart had three safeties, and Lorren Sharp chipped in with two hits and three RBI. Alli Cook and Karli Skowrup also delivered a pair of hits for the 'Cats.
 
Chico State's first contest of the day began as a pitcher's duel, as Brooke Langeloh of the Wildcats and the Silverswords' Laura Moreno matched each other zero for zero for the first two innings.
 
The 'Cats broke through in a big way in the bottom of the third inning. Three straight singles by Marsh, Cook and DeHart put Chico State on the board, then following a walk to Desiree' Gonzalez, Taylor knocked in a pair with a ground single through the right side. Sharp wrapped up the rally with a line single to left to chase home Gonzalez and Taylor, extending the Wildcats' lead to 5-0.
 
The 'Cats added a run in the bottom of the fourth when DeHart dropped a two-out triple down the right field line and scored when Chaminade booted a Gonzalez grounder. Chico State immediately took advantage of the miscue, as Taylor tripled to right to plate Gonzalez and put the Wildcats up 7-0.
 
The Silverswords avoided a shutout by scoring a run in the top of the seventh inning, but it was far too little and far too late as Langeloh retired the final batter to lock down the Wildcats' 7-1 victory.
 
The Wildcats piled up a dozen hits in the game one win. Taylor went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBI, with Marsh, DeHart and Skowrup collecting two hits apiece.
 
Langeloh allowed just two hits and struck out 11 in going the distance for the ninth time this season, raising her season record to a glittering 13-1.
 
The Wildcats wasted little time jumping out in front in their Saturday evening game against Academy of Art. Chico State loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, and went up 1-0 when Taylor's infield single chased home Marsh. Sharp followed with an RBI groundout, and Haley Gilham lined a two-run single to center to give the 'Cats an early 4-0 lead.
 
That would prove to be more than enough run production for Gilham. Staked to the early advantage, the sophomore right-hander was masterful in the pitcher's circle, blanking the Urban Knights on just one hit and striking out seven over the first six frames. Academy of Art scored a run in the top of the seventh and got the tying run to the plate, but Gilham was able to get the final outs needed to nail down the Wildcats' 4-1 victory.
 
Chico State collected eight hits against Academy of Art, with Marsh going 3-for-4. Gilham tossed her 11th complete game of the season to improve her record to 10-7 on the season.
 
Chico State shifts to the Turlock Sports Complex Sunday for their final Tournament of Champions contests. The Wildcats will take on Holy Names at 12:30 p.m., followed by Hawaii Pacific at 3 p.m. Fans can follow the action of both games online with Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.