Clayton Gelfand was stacking up strikeouts while the Chico State baseball team was piling up runs. They both cooled off under the intermittent April showers, but the Wildcats held on to beat rival Sonoma State 10-6 in the opener of a four-game series at Nettleton Stadium.
 
In doing so, the Wildcats moved a game clear of Cal State Monterey Bay in the race for the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division title and moved 2.5 games ahead of Sonoma State.
 
Chico State is now 26-13 overall and 16-11 in the CCAA. Sonoma State fell to 15-22 overall and 13-13 in the CCAA with its eighth loss in the last 11 games.
 

The Wildcats scored twice in the second and six more in the third to chase Sonoma State starter Haydon Turpin (2-3). Andru Cardenas singled home a run and scored to fuel both rallies. Cody Bistline and Josh Falco also drove in runs. Sonny Cortez's two-run single stretched Chico State's lead to 6-0, and then Cameron Santos spelled the end of Turpin's night with a two-run double.
 
Gelfand (7-3) struck out two in the first, three in the second, two in the third and three more in the fourth on the way to a career-high 12 punch-outs. For a while it looked like he might challenge the school record of 14.
 
In the end, walks proved to be his undoing. Gelfand settled down after walking the first two hitters of the game and took a three-hit shutout into the sixth before giving up a solo home run. But in the seventh, the junior walked three more – the third with the bases loaded – and then surrendered a ground single up the middle that cut the lead to 8-3.
 
Grant Wright came on and got two fly balls that could have got the Wildcats out of the inning. The first was a sacrifice fly. The second, left fielder Cody Snider lost in the lights and went for a two-run double. Suddenly the Wildcats' lead was cut to 8-6.
 
The offense responded, however, and once again, Cardenas was in the middle of the uprising. He led off the inning with a bunt, stole second, and scored on an error. Ben Gamba drove in the final run of the game with a two-out single to left.
 
Cardneas finished 3-for-5 with three runs, two RBI and two stolen bases. Gamba and Snider had two hits apiece, and Santos and Cortez each scored twice.
 
Colton Fletcher closed the game for the Wildcats, tossing two scoreless innings – his longest outing of the season. He struck out four, walked two, and didn't allow a hit.
 
The series continues Saturday with a noon a doubleheader. The 2006 Wildcats that advanced to the NCAA Championships title game will be honored prior to the game.
 
Sunday is Senior Day and the Wildcats' eight seniors will be honored prior to the game. It is also Little League day at the park.