STOCKTON – The Chico State baseball team lives to play another game at the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament. Hunter Haworth allowed just two runs in a career-high eight innings as the Wildcats survived Friday morning's elimination game against Cal State Monterey Bay with a 4-2 win at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton.
 

Chico State will now face the tournament's final unbeaten team, Cal State East Bay, tonight at 7 p.m. If they win, they'll play for the tournament title against a yet-to-be-determined opponent Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
Dillon Kelley and Cody Bistline homered and Kelley drove in three runs to pace the offense.
 
Both home runs were memorable, but Haworth's performance was the one that no one will forget. A sophomore who has admittedly struggled through his first two seasons, Haworth has shown signs of putting it all together of late.
 
His best start yet came on his biggest stage so far. Haworth gave up just five hits, walked four, and struck out five in a vital start that saved the Wildcats' bullpen ahead of what they hope will be two more tournament games.
 
"Me and coach (Taylor) have been working on some things to get me going north and south instead of east and west and it has really helped," said Haworth. "It feels good to be where I want to be and helping the team."
 
Haworth had twice completed seven innings in the first 18 starts of his career: last Feb. 21 at Stanislaus State and last Saturday at Stanislaus State.
 
According to Haworth, Bistline was a key factor in him eclipsing that mark.
 
"I was really struggling in the bullpen before the game," Haworth said. "Cody helped me figure some stuff out and get me into a groove."
 
Haworth allowed just one hit in the first three innings, and Cody Snider threw that runner out trying to turn it into a double.
 
Chico State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first when Sonny Cortez walked, stole second, and scored on Kelley's line shot into center field.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay tied the score in the fourth before Haworth got a double-play ball to end the inning.
 
Kelley gave the 'Cats the lead for good in the fifth, catapulting a towering two-run shot over the 385-foot marker in deep left center. Cameron Santos, who singled ahead of him, also scored on the play to make it 3-1.
 

Bistline gave the Wildcats back-to-back innings of the long ball with a majestic rainbow-blast over the 12-foot wall down the left-field line.
 
The score remained 4-1 into the eighth. Haworth got a strikeout on three pitches to start the inning, but on his 100^th pitch of the day, Matt Urakami turned on a pitch and hit to out, trimming the lead to 4-2.
 
Haworth walked the next batter, and after getting ground ball out, hit the next. But Head Coach Dave Taylor stuck with Haworth and the move paid off. Haworth got Otters' leading home run hitter, Hayden Duer, to ground out to third to end the inning.
 
Grant Wright came in from the bullpen to start the ninth and retired the Otters in order for his team-leading third save and his second of the tournament.
 
Santos and Josh Falco had two hits apiece.
 
2016 CCAA Championship Tournament
Banner Island Ballpark – Stockton, California
 
Wednesday, May 11
Game 1 – 11:00 a.m.: No. 6 Chico State 6, No. 1 Cal Poly Pomona 2
Game 2 – 3:00 p.m.: No. 2 Cal State East Bay 13, No. 5 Cal State San Bernardino
Game 3 – 7:00 p.m.: No. 3 Cal State Monterey Bay 11, No. 4 UC San Diego 7
 
Thursday, May 12
Game 4 – 11:00 a.m.: Cal Poly Pomona 6, Cal State San Bernardino 2 (San Bernardino eliminated)
Game 5 – 3:00 p.m.: UC San Diego 7, Chico State 6
Game 6 – 7:00 p.m.: Cal State East Bay 9, Cal State Monterey Bay 8
 
Friday, May 13
Game 7 – 11:00 a.m.: Chico State 4, Cal State Monterey Bay 2 (Cal State Monterey Bay eliminated)
Game 8 – 3:00 p.m.: UC San Diego vs. Cal Poly Pomona (elimination game)
Game 9 – 7:00 p.m.: Chico State vs. Cal State East Bay (possible elimination game)
 
Saturday, May 14
(if 3 teams remain after game 9)
Game 10 – 12:00 p.m.: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 9 (elimination game)
Game 11 – 4:00 p.m.: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10
(if 2 teams remain after game 9)
Game 10 – 12:00 p.m.: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9
Game 11 – 4:00 p.m.: If necessary