TURLOCK—The Chico State softball team may not want to admit it, but playing in Turlock seems to bring out the best in the Wildcats. Dating back to last season, the 'Cats have won 10 straight in Turlock, with their two latest victories coming in Friday's opening day action at the 16th annual Tournament of Champions. Samantha Mulock set the tone by twirling a no-hitter in an 8-0 win over Notre Dame de Namur, and the Wildcats followed that up with a come-from-behind 4-2 victory against Hawai'i Hilo at Pedretti Park.
Friday's two wins moves Chico State, the No. 7-ranked team in the country, to 22-5 on the year.
The Wildcats piled up a combined 20 hits on the day. Megan Bowley and Kristin Worley led the way with four hits and a pair of runs batted in apiece, with Ari Marsh, Haley Gilham, Lorren Sharp and Cailin Garmon picking up two safeties each.
Chico State wasted little time jumping on Notre Dame de Namur in Friday's first game. After being retired in order in the top of the first inning, the Wildcats sent 10 batters to the plate in the second. Gilham led off the frame with her third home run of the season, and the 'Cats quickly loaded the bases for Marsh, who cleared the bags with a three-run double to right-center field. Worley promptly tripled Marsh home and would score herself on the play thanks to a throwing error by the Argonauts' right fielder, giving Chico State a comfortable 6-0 lead.
The Wildcats extended their advantage in the top of the fourth. Marsh led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on Worley's double to right field. Bowley knocked in Marsh with an infield single, and the 'Cats went up 8-0 when Worley came home on a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Gilham.
Mulock, meanwhile, was masterful in the pitcher's circle through the first four innings, surrendering just three walks and allowing just one runner past second base.
Notre Dame de Namur threatened to break up Mulock's no-hitter and shutout in the bottom of the fifth, as the first two batters reached courtesy of a walk and an error. Still with the no-no in place, Mulock induced a fielder's choice grounder and then struck out Haley Stahl. Following a double steal to put runners at second and third, she got Tivoli Sisco to ground out to shortstop, giving the Wildcats the 8-0 win and Mulock her first collegiate no-hitter.
Mulock fanned four to notch her first shutout of the season and improve to 8-3 on the year. She's the first Wildcat pitcher to register a no-hitter since Alex Molina tossed a no-no against San Francisco State on February 22, 2013.
Against Hawai'i Hilo, Chico State found itself in an early hole as the Vulcans' Bailey Gasper hit a two-run homer off Gilham in the bottom of the first inning. In the top of the third, Gilham ripped a single up the middle to plate Garmon and Rachel DeHart, knotting up the contest at 2-2.
In the top of the fifth the Wildcats went out in front, as Worley led off the inning with a double and scored on Bowley's two-out RBI single to center. The 'Cats scored a big insurance run in the top of the sixth—after Sharp was hit by a pitch, DeHart walked and Garmon reached on a bunt single, Marsh drew a bases-loaded walk to plate pinch runner Sarah Galaviz and make the score 4-2.
Hawai'i Hilo got the tying run to the plate with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Gilham shut the door on any potential Vulcans rally by inducing a pair of fielder's choice grounders, then getting pinch-hitter Jordan Millwood on a nubber in front of home plate to end it, giving Chico State the 4-2 victory.
Gilham improved to 12-2 on the year by striking out five and allowing just three hits past the first inning en route to her 13th complete game of the season.
Saturday's second day of the Tournament of Champions will see the Wildcats take on Azusa Pacific at 9 a.m. at Pedretti Park before shifting over to the Turlock Sports Complex to battle Chaminade at 12:30 p.m.
