TURLOCK—From the first day she took over the reins of the Chico State softball program in August of 2009, Angel Shamblin has successfully fostered a positive culture and brought in a seemingly endless stream of talented players to rack up an impressive number of victories…283 W's, to be exact. No. 282—secured when the Wildcats edged Chaminade Friday 3-1 in the team's opening game of the Stanislaus State-hosted Tournament of Champions—was a record-setter, establishing Shamblin as the winningest head coach in Chico State softball history. Before the day was over, the 'Cats added yet another victory to Shamblin's career wins total, bouncing Notre Dame de Namur 10-2 in five innings at the Pedretti Sports Complex.    
 
The two victories moved the No. 3 Wildcats to 28-3 on the season. With 20 regular season games remaining, Chico State is just two wins away from posting 30 victories for the sixth time in Shamblin's nine-year coaching career.
 
The 'Cats' offense enjoyed a very productive day, banging out 22 hits—15 in the second game against Notre Dame de Namur. Wendy Cardinali, Kristin Worley and Ari Marsh delivered four hits apiece, with Megan Bowley and Bailey Akins each collecting three safeties. Cyrena Taylor contributed a pair of hits to back Wildcat pitchers Haley Gilham and Naomi Monahan, who both turned in complete game performances in the circle.

 

Against Chaminade, the Wildcats immediately staked Gilham to a lead. Worley singled with one out in the top of the first inning, stole second and came home on a Silverswords error. Chaminade got a pair aboard in the bottom of the first, then put runners at second and third with one out in the second, but Gilham was able to quell the early-inning rallies and keep the Silverswords off the scoreboard.
 
It was still 1-0 when the 'Cats plated two big insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning. Worley led off the frame with a single, stole second and scored on Marsh's single to center. Taylor came through with a single through the right side to knock in pinch runner Shelby Burdette to put Chico State up 3-0.
 
Gilham set down Chaminade in order in the bottom of the sixth, but in the seventh the Silverswords took advantage of a Wildcats error to score a run and avoid the shutout. The game was still very much in question, with Chaminade getting the potential tying run to the plate with nobody out. Gilham promptly extinguished any chance of late-inning drama, coaxing three straight ground outs to put the finishing touches on the 'Cats' 3-1 win.
 
Gilham allowed just one unearned run while scattering six hits and striking out a half-dozen to log her 13th complete game and improve to 13-2 on the season.
 
The Wildcats jumped out in front in Friday's late game against Notre Dame de Namur. A two-out triple by Akins knocked in Marsh and Cardinali in the top of the first inning, then Akins scored on a double down the left field line by Karli Skowrup, giving Chico State a 3-0 lead. The Argonauts battled back, scoring a run in the bottom of the first and another in the second to pull to within 3-2.
 
The 'Cats broke the game open in the top of the third inning, batting around and scoring five times. Amanda Flores delivered a bases-loaded single to plate Taylor and Akins, then after Bowley singled to re-load the bases, three straight RBI singles by Cardinali, Worley and Marsh pushed Chico State's lead to 8-2.
 
The Wildcats put the game away in the top of the fifth inning as Marsh singled home pinch runner Annie Weiss, and an infield hit by Taylor chased home Cardinali. Monahan tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth to end it, giving Chico State the 10-2 victory.
 
Monahan struck out three in earning the win to move to 12-1 on the season.
 
Chico State is back in action Saturday with two more Tournament of Champions games. The Wildcats take on Montana State-Billings (11-15) at 4:30 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. matchup against Hawai'i Pacific (10-10).