SAN MARCOS—The Chico State softball team returned to California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play on a positive note Friday, opening a four-game road series with a doubleheader sweep of Cal State San Marcos. The No. 13 Wildcats rode Haley Gilham's sixth shutout of the year to a 6-0 victory in the opener, then withstood a pair of late-inning rallies in the nightcap to nip the Cougars 4-3 in the nightcap.  
 
Friday's two wins moves Chico State to 27-6 overall and into second place in the CCAA with a 17-5 conference mark. Cal State San Marcos saw its losing streak extend to 17 straight while falling to 7-28 on the year and 6-20 in CCAA play.
 
The Wildcats racked up 18 hits on the day, with Kristin Worley and Cailin Garmon registering four safeties apiece. Garmon stole her 30th base of the year in game two of the doubleheader, tying her with Alli Cook for the program's all-time single season stolen base record.
 
Sarah Galaviz and Megan Bowley came through with three hits for the 'Cats, while Olivia Dallara added two hits to the 'Cats' attack.
 
Chico State began the scoring in the first game of the doubleheader with pair of third inning runs. Worley singled, stole second and came home when Ari Marsh ripped a double to left-center field. Gilham promptly doubled home pinch-runner Galaviz to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
 
Bases-loaded walks to Galaviz and Gilham in the top of the fourth inning doubled the 'Cats' lead, then in the seventh Garmon's two-run triple extended Chico State's advantage to 6-0. That would be more than enough offense for Gilham—the reigning CCAA Pitcher of the Week set down San Marcos without incident in the bottom of the seventh to lock down the series-opening 6-0 win.
 
Gilham scattered five hits and struck out five in going the distance for the 16th time this season, raising her record to 15-2 on the year.
 
In the nightcap, the Wildcats loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the first inning but came away empty. The Cougars took advantage of the 'Cats' missed scoring opportunity and took the lead with a run in the bottom of the frame.
 
Chico State loaded the bases again in the top of the second but this time struck paydirt. Worley was hit by a pitch to force home Briana Contreras from third, then Bowley followed with an RBI single to put the Wildcats on top 2-1.
 
The 'Cats went up 4-1 in the top of the fourth inning thanks to RBI singles by Worley and Bowley, only to see San Marcos answer with a run in the bottom of the fourth and another in the fifth to close to within 4-3.
 
Chico State was unable to generate any insurance runs, but San Marcos continued its attempts to erase the one-run deficit. With Lynea Klemmedson on in relief of Wildcat starting pitcher Samantha Mulock, the Cougars got the tying run aboard in the sixth and the potential tying and winning runs on base in the seventh. But Klemmedson snuffed out both would-be rallies, giving the 'Cats the 4-3 victory and the doubleheader sweep.
 
Mulock tossed the first five inning, picking up the win to improve to 9-4 on the year, with Klemmedson posting her first save of the season.   
 
The Wildcats conclude their four-game series with Cal State San Marcos Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.