STOCKTON, Calif. – Baseball is a game of numbers, and in Thursday's 5–3 victory over Stanislaus State, Chico State's magic number was two. Double plays powered a pristine defensive performance, Josh Falco's two-run homer tied the game, and two-out RBI hits by Casey Henderson and Cody Snider gave the Wildcats their margin of victory. Dan Beavers earned his second save in two days, striking out two in the ninth.
 
Now 2-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton, Chico State is two wins away from capturing its second straight CCAA Tournament title.
 
The Wildcats will play Cal Poly Pomona Friday at 11 a.m. for a spot in Saturday's title game. The Broncos rallied from five runs down to tie the game and beat UC San Diego 9-8 in 11 innings. The loser of tomorrow morning's game will play again tomorrow night at 7 with a chance to advance to the final day of play.
 
Stanislaus State scored three runs in the span of its first four batters. But Chico State starting pitcher Steven Baker and four relievers combined to shut out the Warriors on just two hits after that, aided by a defense that turned three unconventional double plays.
 

"After I got out of the first I had a much better feel and was able to keep the ball down," said Baker. "The defense was outstanding. I wanted to keep them involved by attacking the strike zone."
 
The offense joined the defense and relief corps to pick up Baker, who had only allowed three runs in a game once before this season.
 
"I figured as long as I could throw up zeroes moving forward the offense would come back," said Baker. "And sure enough, they did."
 
Snider and Cameron Santos hit back-to-back singles to start the fourth. Dillon Kelley drove in Snider with a sacrifice fly. And then Falco went big-fly, blasting a game-tying home run into seats beyond the bullpen in left-center field.
 
In an eight-pitch span the game was tied.
 
"It was good to finally get one over that wall," Falco said. "I feel like I've hit a bunch of balls just in front of it.
 
"We are a confident team. Even after they got those three runs, everyone in the dugout knew we were going to come back to win."
 
Stanislaus' only hit against Baker after its early ambush came leading off the fifth. But Jimbo Pernetti made a diving catch on a sacrifice bunt attempt and then shoveled to Baker covering for a double play.
 
The Wildcats took a 4–3 lead in the sixth. Pernetti and Kelley singled to get things started, and with two down, Henderson lined the go-ahead hit over the second-baseman's head.
 
Stanislaus State got the leadoff man on again in the sixth. Again the Wildcats thwarted the rally with a double play. This time it was a liner to Dallas Porter at second. He snared it and quickly threw to first to double off the runner.
 
That was the final pitch of the day for Baker, who improved to 5-0 with the win. Jae Wagner pitched a scoreless seventh, working around a leadoff walk with a strikeout and groundout.
 

Chico State added an insurance run in the eighth. Henderson and Sonny Cortez singled ahead of Snider, who slapped a single to left center to make it 5–3.
 
The Warriors threatened again in the eighth with a leadoff single, but lefty reliever Grant Larson came on to get a double-play grounder. The ball was hit to Pernetti, who stepped on the first-base bag and threw a strike to second to start a rundown that turned into the second out.
 
"Jimbo is a gold glover of there at first," Falco said.
 
Anthony Baleto got the final out in the eighth, and then Beavers worked around a two-out walk in the ninth, striking out pinch-hitter Austin Fitzpatrick looking to end the game.
 
Every Chico State postseason game will be broadcast locally on AM-1290 KPAY. Links to the online stream, video stream, and live stats are available at www.chicowildcats.com in the calendar section on the homepage and on the baseball schedule page.
 
GAME NOTES – The Wildcats are now 5-3 when trailing after three innings…They are 36-1 when scoring five or more runs…They are 12-4 in games decided by two runs or fewer…Falco has now reached base safely in 41 consecutive games and boasts a .494 on-base percentage during that stretch…Snider now has 17 multi-hit games in his last 25. He's batting .402 (43-for-107) with 27 RBI during that stretch…During his current seven-game hitting streak, Snider is 13-for-30 (.433) with 10 RBI…This marked the 29^th time this season that the Wildcats played error-free. They are 26-3 in those games…Chico State raised its team fielding percentage to .984, which is the NCAA record.
 
2017 CCAA Baseball Tournament – Bracket
Banner Island Ballpark; Stockton, Calif.
May 10-13, 2017
 

Wednesday, May 10
Game 1 – 11:00 a.m.	No. 1 Chico State 9, No. 6 Cal State L.A. 8
Game 2 – 3:00 p.m.	No. 2 Cal Poly Pomona 6, No. 5 Cal State Monterey Bay 3
Game 3 – 7:00 p.m.	No. 3 UC San Diego 6, No. 4 Stanislaus State 1
Thursday, May 11
Game 4 – 11:00 a.m.	Cal State L.A. 3, Cal State Monterey Bay 2 (CSUMB eliminated)
Game 5 – 3:00 p.m.	Chico State 5, vs. Stanislaus State 3 (Stanislaus State eliminated)
Game 6 – 7:00 p.m.	Cal Poly Pomona 9, UC San Diego 8 (11)
Friday, May 12
Game 7 – 11:00 a.m.	Chico State vs. Cal Poly Pomona
Game 8 – 3:00 p.m.	Cal State L.A. vs. UC San Diego
Game 9 – 7:00 p.m.	Loser of game 7 vs. Winner of game 8
Saturday, May 13
Game 10 – 12:00 p.m.	Championship: Winner of game 7 vs. Winner of game 9
Game 11 – 4:00 p.m.	If-necessary