TURLOCK—All season long, the Chico State softball team has shown it has the talent to be successful. Saturday at the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, the Wildcats also displayed the unified heart it takes to be a consistent winner. For the second day in a row, the 'Cats won back-to-back games, but Saturday they had to work hard for each precious "W." The Wildcats started the day taking a 2-1 nail-biter against Azusa Pacific, then followed up by scoring twice in the fifth inning and four times in the sixth to grab an 8-5 win over Chaminade.
Chico State has now won six straight and nine of its last 10 games to improve to 24-5 on the year. The Wildcats have racked up 12 consecutive victories in Turlock dating back to last season.
The 'Cats offense piled up a combined 19 hits in the two Saturday wins. Cailin Garmon, Kristen Worley, Haley Gilham and Olivia Dallara each had three hits, with Garmon swiping five bases and Gilham driving in four runs. Briana Contreras had two hits and added three RBI to the Wildcat attack.
The Wildcats' morning game against Azusa Pacific turned out to be a pitcher's duel between Chico State ace Gilham and Cougars left-handed freshman Kat Ung. The 'Cats immediately grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Garmon reached on a bunt single, stole second and third base and scored on an Ari Marsh groundout.
Azusa Pacific used a two-out double steal to tie up the contest in the top of the third inning, but in the bottom of the frame Chico State went back in front as Worley singled, stole second and scored on Gilham's single up the middle.
Both teams were unable to take advantage of scoring opportunities in the fifth inning. Gilham worked her way out of a second and third, two out situation in the top of the frame, while the Wildcats stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth.
The 'Cats were still clinging to their one-run lead going into the top of the seventh inning, but Azusa Pacific was able to get the potential tying run to third base with two outs. Gilham slammed the door on any game-tying rally by getting Kayla Jimenez to ground into a force play to end it, giving Chico State the 2-1 victory.
Gilham struck out seven to register the complete game victory and improve to 13-2 on the season.
Moving over to the Turlock Sports Complex, the Wildcats quickly fell behind in their afternoon contest, as Chaminade plated a pair of first inning runs off starting pitcher Samantha Mulock. Chico State cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the first thanks to a two-out RBI single by Gilham to chase home Worley from second.
The score stayed 2-1 until Chico State tied things up in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Contreras singled home Dallara. Chaminade jumped back in front with a three run fifth inning, but in the bottom of the frame the Wildcats pulled to within 5-4 when Contreras singled home Dallara and Megan Bowley.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Wildcats struck for what turned out to be the winning rally. With two outs and runners at second and third, Gilham lashed a double to left-center to plate Garmon and Worley and give Chico State the lead. After Bowley reached on an error, Dallara smashed a two-run double down the left field line to extend the 'Cats' advantage to 8-5.
Lynea Klemmedson, who came in to toss three innings of scoreless relief, got the final three outs—all via strikeout—in the top of the seventh inning, cementing the Wildcats' 8-5 victory. Klemmedson got credit for the win to raise her season record to 2-0.
The Wildcats wrap up the Tournament of Champions Sunday with a 9 a.m. game against Saint Martin's at Pedretti Park, followed by a 12:30 p.m. tilt with Western Washington at the Turlock Sports Complex.
