STOCKTON – A confident Chico State softball team took the field at Arnaiz Stadium in Stockton Friday afternoon determined to make this postseason one to remember. The No. 14 Wildcats took an important step towards achieving that goal in their opening game of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament, scoring early and often and then withstanding a late Sonoma State rally to down the Seawolves 5-3.
The victory improved Chico State's season record to 37-12 – the most wins by a Wildcat softball team since 1980 – and moved the 'Cats into Saturday's CCAA Championship Tournament winner's bracket game Saturday at noon versus UC San Diego. The Tritons advanced with a 6-4 victory over No. 3 Humboldt State to open the double-elimination tournament.
Fans can follow Saturday's Chico State-UC San Diego game online with Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website. The loser will play at 5 p.m. against the winner of Saturday's Sonoma State-Humboldt State elimination game.
Chico State collected seven hits in the contest, one a monster home run by Desiree' Gonzalez. Cyrena Taylor and Cailin Garmon each had two hits to lead the Wildcat attack.
Though Chico State had split a four-game series with Sonoma State earlier in the year, historically the 'Cats had not fared well against the Seawolves in the CCAA Championship Tournament, losing all of the three prior meetings between the two teams.
The 2016 edition of the Wildcats had no intention of continuing that postseason trend, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. After Brynn Lesovsky drew a two-out walk, Gonzalez launched her fifth home run of the year far over the left field fence.
Chico State added to its advantage in the bottom of the second inning. Following leadoff singles by Garmon and Sarah Galaviz, Ari Marsh laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Sonoma State pitcher Brielle Vidmar's throw to first overshot the bag and sailed down the left field line. Both Garmon and Galaviz scored on the miscue, and the Wildcats were quickly up 4-0.
Chico State starting pitcher Brooke Langeloh battled with her control early on, walking three batters in the first two innings, but kept the Seawolves off the scoreboard through the first four frames. The Wildcats added another run in the bottom of the fourth, as Garmon led off the inning with an infield single, stole second and third base and scored on Alli Cook's single to right.
Sonoma State finally broke through with two runs in the top of the fifth inning, then in the sixth Sarah Langely's solo homer brought the Seawolves to within 5-3. The Wildcats summoned Haley Gilham from the bullpen, who retired Sonoma State without incident to end the inning.
The Seawolves had one last chance to at least pull even in the top of the seventh inning, but Gilham slammed the door on any type of Sonoma State rally by striking out Alee Balanon and Alison Strycula, then inducing a game-ending groundout off the bat of Carlie Daniel to wrap up the Wildcats'5-3 victory.
Langeloh struck out eight in five-plus innings to earn the win and improve to 19-3 on the year. Gilham allowed just one hit in two innings of shutout relief to post her second save of the season.
