With the two top pitching staffs in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) going head-to-head, it stood to reason that runs would come at a premium in Sunday's series-opening doubleheader pitting No. 7 Chico State and Cal State San Bernardino. Sure enough, the twin bill featured a pair of shutouts with just four runs scored between the two teams. The Wildcats used their lone score of the day to scratch out a 1-0 victory in the opener, with Cal State San Bernardino taking the nightcap 3-0 at University Softball Field.
Sunday's doubleheader split gives Chico State, which owned the top earned run average in the CCAA (1.79) entering play, an 18-5 record on the season and 13-5 in conference play. Cal State San Bernardino, which went into the weekend with a team ERA of 2.03, is now 18-12 on the season and 13-9 in the CCAA.
The Wildcats had just eight total hits on the day, with Kristen Worley and Mya Reynolds collecting two safeties apiece.
Game one of Sunday's double dip featured two of the conference's best hurlers: right-hander Haley Gilham of Chico State and San Bernardino lefty Cassandra Williams. Neither gave up an earned run in the contest, and the only blemish to a double row of zeroes on the scoreboard came in the bottom of the third inning. Rachel DeHart singled, advanced to second on a Sarah Galaviz sacrifice bunt and scored when Ari Marsh beat an errant throw to first on an infield single, giving the 'Cats a 1-0 lead.
Gilham was able to make that lone run stand up, not allowing a Coyotes runner past first base over the final four frames. San Bernardino threatened in the top of the seventh inning, twice getting the potential tying run aboard, but Wildcats' catcher Lauren Sharp short-circuited the Coyotes' rally by throwing out a runner trying to swipe second. With two out and a runner on first, Gilham was able to induce a fielder's choice grounder to end it, giving the 'Cats the 1-0 victory.
With her 11th complete game and fifth shutout of the season, Gilham improved to 10-2 on the season. With 43 career victories, she is now all alone in second place on Chico State's all-time wins list.
The nightcap saw more outstanding pitching. The Wildcats' Samantha Mulock and Amanda Ramirez of San Bernardino matched each other goose-egg for goose-egg until the Coyotes broke through with a run in the top of the fourth inning on a two-out, bases-loaded single off the bat of Morgan Ratliff.
Chico State was unable to answer, as Ramirez allowed just three Wildcat baserunners the rest of the way. San Bernardino scored a pair of insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning, and that would be more than enough offense for Ramirez. Despite a Mya Reynolds single to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning, she was stranded at third when pinch hitter Claire Wayne lined out to second base, giving the Coyotes the 3-0 victory and the doubleheader split.
Mulock tossed her sixth complete game of the year and struck out a season-high six batters, but took the loss to fall to 6-3 on the campaign.
Chico State and San Bernardino meet in another doubleheader Monday to conclude the four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
