The Chico State softball team fell from the ranks of the undefeated Saturday, but not before the Wildcats guaranteed themselves a series win against Cal State East Bay. After sweeping Friday's doubleheader, Haley Gilham tossed another gem as the 'Cats posted a 2-1 win in the opener of Saturday's twin bill. The Pioneers came back in the nightcap to grab a 12-7 victory in action at University Softball Field.
With the doubleheader split, Chico State—ranked 10th in the nation—moves to 8-1 on the season and 3-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State East Bay finished the series with a 7-5 mark and a 3-5 conference record.
Cailin Garmon enjoyed an extremely productive Saturday. The senior collected five hits, scored three times, drove in a pair of runs and stole four bases, giving her nine swipes in as many attempts in the series. Ari Marsh, Megan Bowley and Kristin Worley each had two hits as Chico State piled up 14 safeties on the afternoon.
For the second straight day, the doubleheader opener featured an entertaining pitcher's duel between Gilham and East Bay's Abby Greer. The Wildcats scored what turned out to be their only runs of the contest in the first three frames—Marsh got Chico State on the board in the bottom of the first inning by singling home Garmon, then in the third Garmon singled, stole second and scored on a bunt single by Worley. Gilham, meanwhile, retired the first 10 Pioneers batters she faced.
Gilham had her eye on a shutout as the game headed into the top of the seventh inning. After retiring the first two hitters, a double by Emilie Portesi and a Haley Keahi RBI single spoiled the shutout and snapped Gilham's string of 25 straight scoreless innings. With the potential tying run aboard, Gilham got Belle Placencia to ground out to second to end it, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 win.
Gilham allowed just three hits and struck out five in notching her fourth complete game of the year and improving her season record to 5-0.
The second game of the doubleheader featured plenty of crooked numbers on the scoreboard. East Bay plated a pair in the top of the first inning, only to see the Wildcats double that production in the bottom of the frame. Worley singled home Garmon and scored on an RBI single by Bowley, then with two outs Briana Contreras singled home Bowley and Claire Wayne to put the 'Cats on top 4-2.
The lead didn't last long. East Bay scored nine unanswered runs—four in the second inning, three more in the third and two in the fourth to grab a commanding 11-4 lead. The Wildcats tried to fight back, loading the bases in the fifth inning and getting two runners into scoring position in the sixth, but both rallies were snuffed out by the Pioneers.
East Bay scored its final run in the top of the seventh inning, and though Chico State scored three times in the bottom of the frame—a bases-loaded walk to Rachel DeHart forced home Olivia Dallara, and Garmon's single to right chased home Wayne and Karli Skowrup—it was much too little and much too late, as the Pioneers recorded the final outs to come away with the 12-7 win and earn the doubleheader split.
The Wildcats are back in action next weekend, traveling to Southern California to take on Cal State Dominguez Hills. The four-game series gets underway with a doubleheader Friday at 12 p.m., followed by a Saturday twin bill beginning at 10 a.m.
