TURLOCK – The Chico State baseball team let a the California Collegiate Athletic Association North Division title slip away with Sunday afternoon's 4-3 loss to Stanislaus State in Turlock. But the Wildcats don't have any time to dwell on that missed opportunity. They'll start a brand new title quest Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. against Cal Poly Pomona in the opening game of the CCAA Championship Tournament.
Chico State trailed its regular-season finale from the second inning on, Sunday, before a three-run rally in the eighth tied the game 3-3. In hindsight, the three runs weren't enough. Jerrett Maas' leadoff single was the Wildcats' lone hit of the frame and just the fourth of the day for Chico State. They had the benefit of three walks, a wild pitch and an error after Maas' single, but still only managed to tie the game heading to the bottom of the eighth.
Stanislaus State loaded the bases on three straight two-out hits in the eighth, and then scored the winning run when reliever Stuart Bradley hit a batter with the bases full.
Chico State was retired in order in the ninth. The Wildcats' four hits Sunday were their fewest since Feb. 28.
The Wildcats, 22-6 at around the midway point of the regular season, will start postseason play with a record of 31-19. They finished 21-17 in the CCAA, a half-game behind Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay in the North Division standings.
They are the No. 6 seed in the six-team CCAA Championship Tournament. Cal Poly Pomona, which won the CCAA South Division crown, is the top seed.
The winner of Wednesday's Chico State-Cal Poly Pomona game will play again Thursday at 3 p.m. The loser will play in the first elimination game of the tournament Thursday at 11 a.m.
2016 CCAA Baseball Championship Tournament – Banner Island Ballpark, Stockton, California
Wednesday, May 11
Game 1, 11 a.m. –
No. 6 Chico State vs. No. 1 Cal Poly Pomona
Game 2, 3 p.m. – No. 5 Cal State San Bernardino vs. No. 2 Cal State East Bay
Game 3, 7 p.m. – No. 4 UC San Diego vs. No. 3 Cal State Monterey Bay
Thursday, May 12
Game 4, 11 a.m. – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 (elimination game)
Game 5, 3 p.m. – Winner Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3 (possible elimination)
Game 6, 7 p.m. – Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3
CCAA CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT RELEASE/COMPLETE SCHEDULE
