The Chico State softball team remained flawless. Haley Gilham was nearly the same.
 
The senior pitcher struck out 11 batters in a one-hit shutout, overpowering Cal State San Marcos in a 4-0 victory, and the Wildcats went on to win their 13th straight game to start the season with a 7-1 triumph over the Cougars, sweeping the doubleheader Saturday at University Softball Field.

The latest two victories improved Chico State to 13-0 overall and 8-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Every other conference team has at least four losses overall and two setbacks in CCAA play.
 
Cal State San Marcos dropped to 2-8 on the season and 1-7 in the CCAA.
 
Ari Marsh had four hits on the day with two in each game, leading the Wildcats. Karli Skowrup's three-run home run highlighted a six-run fourth inning that broke a 1-1 tie in the second contest as pitcher Naomi Monahan won by tossing five innings of one-run ball.
 
Gilham was the CCAA Pitcher of the Year in 2017, and she's making an early claim on keeping the award. After a two-hit shutout when she struck out nine batters in a 3-0 victory Friday, the senior upped her season high to 11 on Saturday.
 
The one hit against Gilham (7-0) came on a bad-hop grounder to shortstop. She walked one and hit one batter while lowering her earned run average to 0.63 on the season.
 
She set the tone in the first inning, striking out the side in order.

 

Cougars pitcher Caitlin Vinyard (1-3) did match Gilham for four innings, keeping the game scoreless.
 
But Chico State broke through in the fifth as Kristin Worley singled through the left side and then stole second base. She advanced on two balls hit to the outfield, the latter one a sacrifice fly by Bailey Akins for a 1-0 lead.
 
The Wildcats gave Gilham more run support in the sixth. Claire Wayne walked, and pinch-hitter Amanda Flores singled with one out. Wendy Cardinali doubled to left-center field to send them both around to score. After Worley walked, she and Cardinali pulled off a double steal before Marsh singled home Cardinali for a 4-0 lead.
 
That was more than enough for Gilham, who allowed one runner to reach third base and retired the Cougars in order four times in the first, third, fifth and seventh innings.
 
Worley reached base four times as she was 2 of 2 with two walks and a run scored. Wayne reached base three times with a hit and two walks.
 
The second game saw San Marcos score a run in the top of the first inning, marking the first deficit the Wildcats had faced in eight CCAA games this season.
 
Chico State tied the game in the second inning as Cardinali walked with the bases full to bring in Cyrena Taylor.
 
The score remained 1-1 until the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
Marsh singled in Annie Weiss, running for Wayne after she led off with a single. Flores delivered another pinch-hit single for a run as Mia Quintero scored and so did Cardinali after a San Marcos miscue. Skowrup then homered for the fourth time this season, bringing in Flores and Marsh as well for a 7-1 advantage.
 
The home run was the Wildcats' 18th on the season in 13 games. The program record for homers in a season is 26, which was set in 2014.
 
Skowrup was 2 of 4 as was Marsh.
 
Monahan (4-0) finished her day in the circle an inning later. She allowed one run on five hits and one walk while striking out four.

Sam Mulock struck out three in two scoreless innings of relief.
 
The Wildcats next play Cal State East Bay at University Softball Field. Friday's doubleheader starts at noon while Saturday's twin bill begins at 11 a.m.
 
Fans unable to attend the games can follow the action online with Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.