As evidenced by its season record, the Chico State softball team has been beating opponents regularly, and in a variety of ways. On several occasions, top-flight pitching and slick fielding have carried the day. But the Wildcats' hitting has been as productive as any time in the program's 50-year history, and they proved it again Saturday in their series-ending doubleheader with Cal State Monterey Bay. The 2018 edition of the 'Cats used three home runs to cement the team's place in Wildcats history while beating the Otters 7-0 and 7-5 to sweep the four-game set at University Softball Field.
The three round-trippers gives the Wildcats 28 home runs on the season, eclipsing the previous team record of 26, set back in 2014. What makes the achievement all the more impressive is Chico State needed only 24 games to set the program's new long-distance mark.
With Saturday's two wins, the 'Cats—ranked No. 5 in the nation—improved to 23-2 on the season. Chico State is 18-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and now holds a four-game lead atop the conference standings.
Chico State got two more quality pitching performances from Haley Gilham—one as a starter and another as a reliever—while piling up 17 hits on offense. Amanda Flores led the way with four hits and three runs batted in; Wendy Cardinali and Ari Marsh each had a home run among their six combined hits, while Megan Bowley had two hits and an RBI.
The Wildcats got off to a good start in the opener of Saturday's twin bill. In the bottom of the first inning, Karli Skowrup laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Cardinali from third, then Kristin Worley came home on a passed ball to give Chico State a quick 2-0 lead.
The 'Cats added to their advantage in the bottom of the third, as Marsh led off the inning with a towering home run down the right field line. Later in the frame Flores doubled to plate Skowrup and Claire Wayne, then came home on a base hit by Bowley to put the Wildcats up 6-0.
With Gilham hanging zeroes on the Otters' side of the scoreboard, Chico State once again went to the big fly in the bottom of the fifth inning. Bailey Akins' solo shot—her CCAA-leading eighth homer of the year—not only gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead, but served as the blast that broke the team's single season home run record.
That would be more than enough offense for Gilham, who retired the final 11 Monterey Bay hitters she faced to seal the deal on Chico State's 7-0 victory. Gilham registered her 11th complete game and seventh shutout to improve to 11-1 on the year.
In the nightcap, the Wildcats put up crooked numbers in each of the first three innings. Chico State took advantage of a two-out Otters error to score twice in the bottom of the first, then with Flores and Bowley aboard in the second, Cardinali launched a ball over the left-center field fence. Her fifth home run of the year gave the 'Cats a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Chico State struck again, as RBI singles by Flores and Cardinali upped the Wildcats' advantage to 7-0. Cal State Monterey Bay rallied, scoring twice in the fifth inning and three times in the sixth to pull to within two. With two outs the potential tying run at the plate, Gilham was summoned from the Chico State bullpen, and she promptly struck out Rosalia Keirns to end the sixth and get the 'Cats back into the dugout with the lead.
Gilham came back out in the seventh inning to retire the Otters in order, locking down the Wildcats' 7-5 win, and putting the finishing touches on the doubleheader and series sweep.
Naomi Monahan tossed the first five innings to earn the win and improve to 9-1 on the year, with Gilham chalking up her first save of the season.
The Wildcats are back on the road next week, traveling to Southern California to take on UC San Diego. The four-game series begins Thursday in La Jolla with a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m., followed by a Friday twin bill at noon.
