TURLOCK—The Chico State softball team concluded the Tournament of Champions Sunday, and though the Wildcats came up short of winning all six weekend contests, the trip to Turlock can surely be looked on as a success. The 'Cats stretched their weekend winning streak to five straight with a 9-1 drubbing of Saint Martin's at Pedretti Park before falling in the final game 4-0 to Western Washington at the Turlock Regional Sports Complex.
With the Sunday split, Chico State finished the Tournament of Champions with a 5-1 record and is now 25-6 overall.
The Wildcats registered a dozen hits Sunday—11 in the day's first game. Ari Marsh delivered three hits and drove in three runs, with Cailin Garmon and Kristin Worley collecting two safeties apiece. Garmon stole three more bases Sunday, giving her 29 for the year—just one shy of tying Alli Cook's single-season team record of 30 swipes.
In the morning game against Saint Martin's, the Wildcats staked Haley Gilham to an early lead. Garmon walked to lead off the top of the first inning, then stole second and scored on a Saints throwing error, allowing Worley to reach base. Worley would later steal third and score on a Gilham groundout, putting the Wildcats up 2-0.
Garmon scored another run in the top of the third inning. The senior singled, stole second, was sacrificed to third and came home on Marsh's single to left field.
Chico State broke the game open in the top of the fourth. Karli Skowrup doubled and scored on a pinch-hit single by Claire Wayne. The 'Cats extended their advantage to 5-0 when Worley produced an RBI single to plate pinch runner Sarah Galaviz. Marsh promptly doubled home a pair, then scored when Gilham got aboard courtesy of a Saint Martin's error, and suddenly the Wildcats were up comfortably 8-0.
The 'Cats built their cushion to nine runs in the top of the fifth, as Garmon singled, stole second and scored on the Saints' fourth error of the game. Saint Martin's took advantage of a Chico State error to score a run in the bottom of the fifth, but it was far too little and far too late, as the Wildcats locked down the 9-1 victory.
Gilham went the distance in the pitcher's circle, striking out four while allowing just one unearned run on four hits. The victory raised Gilham's season record to 14-2 and lowered her earned run average to 0.91.
The Sunday afternoon tilt against Western Washington saw the Vikings jump out in front with a run in the bottom of the first inning, then score three more in the fourth to extend their lead to 4-0.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, simply had no answer for Vikings' right-hander Anna Kasner—the freshman struck out 13 of the first 18 Chico State batters she faced, allowing only a first inning single to Marsh. The 'Cats would not be able to mount a last-inning rally, as Kasner retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to give Western Washington the 4-0 win and hand Chico State just its second shutout loss of the season.
Samantha Mulock started in the pitcher's circle for the 'Cats and was tagged with the loss, slipping to 8-4 on the season.
Following play Sunday, Gilham and Garmon were named to the Tournament of Champions all-tournament team.
The Wildcats return to California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play this Friday and Saturday, traveling to Southern California to take on Cal State San Marcos. The four-game series begins Friday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader, followed by an 11 a.m. twin bill on Saturday.
