The Chico State softball team still has some work to do in order to capture one of the four California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament bids, but the Wildcats took two huge steps towards reaching postseason play Friday by sweeping their series-opening doubleheader with Sonoma State. The 'Cats cranked up the offense to the tune of 13 runs and 22 hits as they downed the Seawolves 5-1 and 8-6 at University Softball Field.
 
After three straight losses last weekend against Cal State Monterey Bay dropped Chico State to fifth place in the conference standings, Friday's doubleheader sweep lifts the Wildcats to 34-13 overall and into third place in the CCAA with a 24-12 mark. The 'Cats have yet to wrap up a return trip to postseason play, though—they still need to win one of the two remaining games against Sonoma State Saturday to insure Chico State finishes among the top four teams in the conference and secure a CCAA Championship Tournament berth.
 
 

Sonoma State (35-17, 25-13 CCAA), which began the day in second place, dropped into a tie for fourth in the conference with Cal State San Bernardino. The Coyotes split their series-opening doubleheader with Cal State East Bay Friday; Humboldt State, also battling for a CCAA Championship Tournament berth, saw its series-opening twin bill in Arcata with Cal State Monterey Bay cancelled due to unplayable field conditions.
 
Ari Marsh led the Wildcat offense Friday with four hits while knocking in four runs. Cailin Garmon added four hits, scored three runs and swiped three bases, with Rachel DeHart chipping in with three safeties on the day. Karli Skowrup has two hits and drove in three runs, with Megan Bowley and Haley Gilham adding two knocks apiece.
 
In game one of Friday's double dip, the Wildcats took advantage of a two-out Sonoma State miscue to get on the board in the bottom of the first inning. With Marsh reaching on a dropped pop-up, Claire Wayne clubbed her fifth home run of the year to dead center field, quickly putting the 'Cats on top 2-0.
 
Gilham kept the Seawolves relatively quiet through the first four frames, and then pitched out of a jam in the top of the fifth inning as Sonoma put runners at second and third, only to come away empty.
 
Back-to-back RBI doubles by Marsh and Kristin Worley in the bottom of the fifth inning extended Chico State's advantage, then in the sixth Gilham doubled and came home on a Sarah Galaviz two-out two-bagger to make the score 5-0.
 
Sonoma finally broke through with a run in the top of the seventh, but it was far too little and far too late as Gilham closed things out to give Chico State the 5-1 win.
 
Gilham allowed just three hits in notching her 22nd complete game of the season and raising her record to 20-4. She becomes just the third 20-game winner for the Wildcats since 1984, following Sam Baker (2011) and Brooke Langeloh (2016).
 
The nightcap of Friday's doubleheader saw the Wildcats and Seawolves combine for 10 runs and 14 hits in the first two innings alone. Sonoma jumped out in front with a run in the top of the first, but Chico State responded in its half of the inning with RBI singles by Skowrup and Bowley to put the 'Cats ahead 2-1.
 
The Seawolves capitalized on two Chico State errors to score four unearned runs in the top of the second to grab a 5-2 lead, but the Wildcats again answered in their half of the inning. With two outs and nobody on, Garmon singled, stole second and scored on Marsh's line single to center. Skowrup then stepped up and delivered her second home run of the season, a two-run shot to tie the score at 5-5.
 
The 'Cats took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning. After the first two batters were retired, Chico State loaded the bases. Garmon punched a single to center to chase home DeHart, then Marsh dropped a base hit just inside the left field line to drive in Galaviz and Lorren Sharp to put the Wildcats up 8-5.
 
The Seawolves plated a run in the top of the fourth, but left the potential tying runs on base as Lynea Klemmedson, on in relief of Wildcat starter Samantha Mulock, got Alex Flores to pop up to end the inning. Sonoma threatened again in the seventh, putting two aboard, but Gilham returned to the pitcher's circle to short-circuit the Seawolves' rally by getting the final three outs to nail down the Wildcats' 8-6 victory and the doubleheader sweep.
 
Klemmedson (3-1) tossed two-and-a-third innings of scoreless relief to get credit for the win, with Gilham posting her third save of the season.
 
The Wildcats and Seawolves close out the regular season and the series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 noon, with postseason aspirations for both teams hinging on the results. It's also Senior Day and District 47 Little League Day at University Softball Field—a special ceremony honoring Wildcat seniors Briana Contreras, Sarah Galaviz and Cailin Garmon begins at approximately 11:30 a.m., then following game two all Little Leaguers in attendance will be invited onto the field to meet the entire Wildcat team and get player autographs. District 47 Little Leaguers are invited to attend the doubleheader free of charge, and are encouraged to come in uniform.