The Chico State softball team knew it had to win two straight Friday at the NCAA West Regional or see its season come to a close. The Wildcats proved to be more than up to the challenge, eliminating both California Baptist 4-3 and Cal State San Bernardino 5-3 at University Softball Field to reach the tournament finals. Things don't get any easier—the 'Cats have to do it again on Championship Saturday, with a pair of wins over Humboldt State needed to advance to the NCAA West Super Regional.
Claire Wayne celebrates after hitting her
seventh home run of the season Friday.
The Wildcats and Lumberjacks will take the field at 11 a.m. Saturday, with a Chico State victory forcing an "if necessary" game at 1:30 p.m. Should Humboldt win the early tilt, the Lumberjacks will move on to the NCAA West Super Regional and end Chico State's season.
Fans unable to attend Saturday's action in person can keep updated online with Live Stats and live video streaming, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
Chico State improved to 39-17 overall with the two Friday wins, and avenged Thursday's opening round tournament loss to San Bernardino. Cal Baptist, ranked No. 19 in the nation, ended its season with a 36-13 record, while the Coyotes concluded 2017 with a season record of 38-21.
The Wildcats' offense was certainly productive Friday, piling up 24 hits over the two postseason contests. Karli Skowrup led the way with five hits, with Ari Marsh piling up four safeties on the day. Megan Bowley and Kristin Worley each contributed three hits for the 'Cats, with Claire Wayne and Olivia Dallara both delivering a pair of knocks.
Kristin Worley had three hits and scored
twice Friday against Cal Baptist.
In Friday's first elimination game, Chico State struck for a run in the top of the first inning when Worley scored on a Marsh single to right. The Wildcats put up a crooked number in the third courtesy of an RBI single by Skowrup and a two-run home run by Wayne, giving Chico State a 4-0 lead.
Wildcats starting pitcher Haley Gilham kept Cal Baptist off the scoreboard until the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Lancers plated a pair to cut the deficit in half. In the seventh Cal Baptist scored again when Krista Mann came home on a two-out base hit by London Miller. Cailin Garmon was summoned from the Chico State bullpen, and with the potential tying run aboard, coaxed a groundout off the bat of Brittany Galvez to end the game and give the 'Cats the 4-3 victory.
Gilham got credit for the win to improve to 23-7 overall, with Garmon chalking up her first save. Kellye Springstead took the loss for Cal Baptist to dip to 11-6 on the season.
Less than an hour later, it was do-or-die time again for the Wildcats in the day's second elimination game. Cal State San Bernardino, which topped Chico State 5-2 Thursday but fell to Humboldt State 5-1 in Friday's winner's bracket game, spotted the 'Cats a first inning run on Skowrup's two-out RBI single, but answered with two in the bottom of the second to take the lead.
The Wildcats tied the game in the top of the third inning as Marsh's infield single chased home Garmon, then in the fourth Bowley went big fly to left center field. Her second round tripper of the year put the 'Cats back on top 3-2.
Cailin Garmon (center) receives a high-five from Sarah Galaviz after the
final out of the Wildcats' 5-3 victory over Cal State San Bernardino.
It stayed that way until the top of the seventh inning, when an infield single by Dallara and a throwing error by San Bernardino allowed two Wildcats to score. Though now down by three, the Coyotes made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh, as Jessica Brown led off with a home run and Morgan Ratliff followed with a base hit. With the potential tying run at the plate and nobody out, Garmon reached back for a little extra in the pitcher's circle to retire the next three San Bernardino hitters, locking down Chico State's season-saving 5-3 victory.
Garmon (3-2) tossed three-and-a-third innings of relief to earn the win.
Chico State now faces Humboldt State (40-13), which beat the Wildcats a week ago in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament to capture the conference crown. The Lumberjacks hold a 3-2 edge in the season series heading into Saturday's action.
2017 NCAA WEST REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
May 11-13, University Softball Field
Chico, Calif.
Double-elimination tournament
All times Pacific
Thursday, May 11
Game 1: No. 2 Humboldt State 1, No. 7 California Baptist 0
Game 2: No. 6 Cal State San Bernardino 5, No. 3 Chico State 2
Friday, May 12
Game 3: Humboldt State 5, Cal State San Bernardino 1
Game 4: Chico State 4, California Baptist 3 (elimination game)
Game 5: Chico State 5, Cal State San Bernardino 3 (elimination game)
Saturday, May 13
11 a.m.—Game 6: Humboldt State (40-13) vs. Chico State (39-17)
1:30 p.m.—Game 7: Humboldt State vs. Chico State (if necessary)
In the other NCAA West Regional, Dixie State and Sonoma State have advanced to Championship Saturday. The No. 4 seed Trail Blazers beat No. 8 Western Washington 5-0 Friday to advance to the finals, while No. 5 Sonoma State eliminated both No. 1 seed Cal State Monterey Bay and Western Washington to stay alive.
