LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The Chico State softball team didn't rely on the long ball Saturday like it did the day before at the Desert Stinger Tournament. The Wildcats kept the ball in the yard but were just as successful, mixing timely hitting with shutdown pitching to win both games in the second day of action at Majestic Park in Las Vegas, downing Western New Mexico 8-2 and shutting out Cal Baptist 2-0.
 
Saturday's two wins moves Chico State to 4-0 on the young season, and with one contest to play Sunday, the Wildcats have a chance to post a perfect tournament record in the program's first-ever appearance in the Desert Stinger.
 
Chico State collected 16 hits on the day, with Olivia Dallara notching three hits and four runs batted in. Cailin Garmon also had three hits, while Kristin Worley and Sarah Galaviz had two safeties apiece.
 
In the pitcher's circle, Lynea Klemmedson notched her first victory as a Wildcats with four innings of solid relief against Western New Mexico, while Haley Gilham twirled a five-hit shutout versus Cal Baptist (the seventh of her Chico State career) to improve to 2-0 on the season.
 
Against Western New Mexico, Chico State plated a run in the opening frame when Garmon singled, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. The Mustangs evened the contest with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the third inning.
 
Megan Bowley put the Wildcats back in front in the top of the fourth inning when her double down the left field line chased home Dallara to make the score 2-1. The 'Cats added a pair in the top of the fifth when Garmon led off with a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch, then later in the frame Galaviz scored on Dallara's double to left to push Chico State's lead to 4-1.
 
Three straight singles by Western New Mexico in the bottom of the fifth inning cut the deficit to two, but a Mustangs error led to two Chico State runs in the top of the sixth to put the Wildcats up 6-2.
 
The Wildcats added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning when Karli Skowrup doubled home Lexi Wagoner and came around to score on an RBI single by Mya Reynolds. Klemmedson wrapped up her impressive relief stint by getting the final three outs in the bottom of the seventh to give Chico State the 8-2 victory.
 
The 'Cats and Cal Baptist, playing for the first time since meeting twice in last year's NCAA Championship West Sub-Regional, locked horns under the lights Saturday in a good old-fashioned pitcher's duel, as Gilham and Ciara Stapp of the Lancers matched each other zero for zero through the first three innings. The Wildcats broke the seal in the top of the fourth, when Ari Marsh singled, went to third on a base hit by Claire Wayne and scored on Bowley's sacrifice fly to center.
 
Gilham was able to protect the razor-thin lead by working out of two-on, one-out jams in both the fourth and fifth innings. Chico State scored a big insurance run in the top of the sixth when Dallara singled home Worley, leaving it for Gilham to shut down Cal Baptist in the sixth and seventh to lock down the shutout and the 2-0 Wildcats win.
 
The Wildcats conclude the Desert Stinger Tournament with a single game Sunday at 11:30 a.m. against the host school, Montana State-Billings. Fans can follow the action online with Live Stats via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live streaming video is also available.