Jimbo Pernetti relieved Chico State baseball Head Coach Dave Taylor's concerns Sunday in the best possible way – by doing it right away.
Pernetti turned a diving catch into a double play to end the top of the first and pounded a two-run home run to cap a four-run rally in the bottom of the frame, eliminating any worries that the Wildcats were overconfident or unfocused for Sunday's series finale against Cal State San Marcos.
They went on to win 9–0, securing their sixth straight victory since losing Andru Cardenas to an illness and sixth series sweep of the season. Ranked No. 1 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, No. 3 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and Perfect Game USA, and No. 10 by D2 Baseball News entering the weekend, the Wildcats improved to 27-5 overall and 20-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
Chico State crushed the Cougars in a doubleheader sweep Saturday and faces UC San Diego next weekend in matchup of top-10 teams. That had Taylor worried was that his Wildcats might lack focus Sunday.
Cam Greenough threw six shutout innings and improved to 5-0.
They did not.
After starter Cam Greenough faced the minimum in the first, finished by Pernetti's diving double play, the Wildcats wasted no time in grabbing the lead. Sonny Cortez drew a leadoff walk and Cody Snider slammed a one-hop double off the wall in center field for a 1-0 lead. After Cameron Santos' single and a run-scoring double play grounder, Josh Falco doubled ahead of Pernetti.
For the second straight day, Pernetti planted a ball on the rugby pitch beyond the left field wall for a 4–0 lead.
Greenough fired six shutout innings, scattering six hits and striking out three, improving to 5-0. He was especially effective with runners on base, getting two double-play balls and holding the Cougars without a hit in four at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Steven Baker pitched a scoreless seventh, Grand Larson and Grant Wright combined for a scoreless eighth, and Anthony Baleto retired the Cougars in order in the ninth.
Cody Snider doubled in his first two at-bats,
scored twice, and drove in a run.
Chico State added single runs to its lead in the third, fourth, and fifth. Snider led off with a double and scored on Dillon Kelley's base hit in the third. Andrew Carrillo led off with a single and scored on Tyler Stofiel's sacrifice bunt in the fourth. Santos drew a leadoff walk and scored on Kelley's sacrifice fly in the fifth to make it 7–0.
Casey Henderson and Jerrett Maas walked with the bases loaded in the seventh, accounting for the final two runs of the day.
Chico State outscored the Cougars 37–7 over the course of the three-game series.
The Wildcats face a very different opponent next weekend in La Jolla. UC San Diego entered this weekend ranked No. 8 in the nation and won two of three at Stanislaus State. At 22-6, the Tritons lead the CCAA's South Division by 3.5 games.
Chico State's lead in the North Division increased to seven games Sunday. The defending CCAA Champion Wildcats lead UC San Diego by 4.5 games in the race for the conference crown, which goes to the team with the best regular-season conference record.
The series begins with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. and concludes with a single game Sunday at noon.
