If the Chico State baseball team's home opening series sweep of Simpson University is a sign of things to come, the team's fans will appreciate the pitching staff even more when temperatures approach the century mark later this season at Nettleton Stadium. So far they are generating a lot of wind.
 
Six Wildcats combined to strike out 20 more hitters Monday, including 16 in the seven-inning second game, as the Wildcats swept a doubleheader from the Red Hawks to complete the series sweep with victories of 7–1 and 11–0.
 

The Chico State pitching staff struck out 46 hitters in the four-game series–43 swinging–and has now sent 71 batters back to the dugout in frustration in 62 and two-thirds innings.
 
Chico State is now 6-2 this season and 76-6 in non-conference home games in the Dave Taylor era.
 
Wildcats starter Cam Greenough struck out a dozen hitters in five innings of one-hit ball in the series finale. Grant Larson completed the shutout by striking out four in two innings of work.
 
After a leadoff walk to start the game, Greenough (2-0) retired 12 straight, including nine via strikeout. He struck out five in a row at one point.
 
The Red Hawks' only hit against him came leading off the fifth when Dillon Klement hit a hard grounder that deflected off of Grenough. Shorstop Dallas Porter charged to try to make the play, but his off-balanced throw pulled first baseman Josh Falco off the bag.
 
Greenough responded by striking out the final three batters he faced. In striking out 12, Greenough becomes just the third Wildcat to do so since 2007, and second in two days. Hunter Haworth struck out 13 in six innings in Sunday's home opener.
 
Meanwhile, Chico State's offense was rolling. Andru Cardenas and Josh Falco had three hits and knocked in two runs apiece. Andrew Carrillo went 2-for-2 and was twice hit by pitches. Cameron Santos went 1-for-1 with a walk, two runs, and three RBI. And Jimbo Pernetti, who just missed a home run in the first game and had to settle for an RBI-double off the wall, blasted a two-run shot to left.
 
Casey Costello got his first win as a Wildcat in the opener, allowing just two hits and a walk in five innings. Anthony Boleto tossed two scoreless frames in relief, and Mikey Wright struck out two in the ninth to nail down the victory.
 
Sonny Cortez, Jerrett Maas, and Pernetti had two hits apiece for the Wildcats, and Marcos Valencia slammed a pinch-hit two-run homer to wrap up the scoring.
 
The Wildcats will now hit the road to take part in the Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park, the home of the Houston Astros, this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They'll face two teams among "others receiving votes" in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper preseason poll, and tournament host Central Missouri, which is ranked No. 3 in the nation.
 
Links to follow the action will be available at www.chicowildcats.com. The games on Saturday and Sunday will be broadcast locally on AM-1290 KPAY.