TURLOCK—The Chico State softball team continued its magical roll through the program's 50th season Sunday, completing a 5-0 weekend and capturing the Tournament of Champions crown with wins over Simon Fraser and Western Oregon. Karli Skrowup homered twice and drove in six runs as the 'Cats started the day with an 8-0 win over Simon Fraser, followed by a "gut it out" pitching performance by ace Haley Gilham in a 2-0 victory over the Western Oregon in games played at the Pedretti Sports Complex in Turlock.
Chico State, the No. 3-ranked team in the nation, improved its season record to 31-3 with the two Sunday victories. The Wildcats have now won six in a row and 12 of their last 13 games.
Amanda Flores had three hits Sunday at the
Tournament of Champions to raise her season
batting average to .389.
Photo courtesy of Janna Weiss Photography.
The 'Cats racked up 19 hits on the afternoon. Skowrup netted four hits—all for extra bases—in Sunday's first game, with Wendy Cardinali, Cyrena Taylor and Amanda Flores delivering three hits apiece on the day. Kristin Worley also contributed a pair of safeties to help the Wildcats run their Tournament of Champions record to 20-3 since 2015.
Following Sunday's play, Cardinali and Gilham were named to the All-Tournament Team.
In Sunday's early game against Simon Fraser, the Wildcats posted a crooked number on the scoreboard in their very first at-bat. Taylor's RBI single to center plated Cardinali in the bottom of the first inning, then following a walk to Bailey Akins, Skowrup launched a home run over the left field fence. The three-run blast pushed Chico State's lead to 4-0.
With pitchers Naomi Monahan and Sam Mulock keeping the Simon Fraser offense in check, the 'Cats went up 6-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Skowrup doubled home Akins and scored on an RBI single by Flores.
Chico State put the game away in the bottom of the sixth, and it was Skowrup who provided the final blow. With Akins aboard, Skowrup again went big fly, easily clearing the left field fence. Her seventh home run of the year—and fifth and sixth RBI of the contest—put the exclamation point on Chico State's 8-0 win.
Haley Gilham notched her 15th win of the season
Sunday with a five-hit shutout over Western Oregon.
Mulock allowed just two hits and struck out four in four innings of scoreless relief to earn the win and raise her season record to 3-0.
Chico State's final game of the Tournament of Champions featured a pitcher's duel between Gilham and Western Oregon's Chandler Bishop. The Wildcats used three straight singles by Cardinali, Worley and Ari Marsh to get on the board in the top of the third inning, then in the fifth Flores led off with a double and Cardinali's RBI single plated pinch runner Annie Weiss to put the 'Cats up 2-0.
Gilham allowed just a pair of singles through the first five innings, but ran into trouble in the sixth, as the Wolves put runners at second and third with one out. With the potential tying run in scoring position, Gilham struck out Ryanne Huffman, then after a walk loaded the bases, she induced an inning-ending—and rally-killing—groundout to end the Western Oregon threat.
The Wolves would not roll over, however, and in the bottom of the seventh again loaded the bases with one out. For the second straight inning, Gilham would turn Western Oregon away, striking out Ayanna Arceneaux and Tyler Creach to end the ballgame, with Chico State holding on for the 2-0 win.
Gilham improved to 15-2 on the season, striking out eight in recording her ninth shutout and 15th complete game of the season.
Chico State returns to California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play next week, hosting Cal State Dominguez Hills at University Softball Field. The four-game series gets underway with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m., followed by a Friday twin bill starting at 11 a.m.
