Recent history shows that Chico State softball teams have been consistently good on their home turf. Since 2010, when Angel Shamblin became head coach, the Wildcats have prevailed in 122 of 178 games at University Softball Field—an impressive .685 winning percentage. The 2018 edition of the 'Cats has taken that productive run and kicked it up a notch, posting 16 home victories without a loss. No. 3 Chico State continued its home dominance Friday, downing Cal State Dominguez Hills 4-2 and 5-2 to sweep the doubleheader and four-game series against the visiting Toros.
 
Chico State, winners of 16 of its last 17 games, ran its winning streak to 10 straight to move to 35-3 on the season and 25-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Wildcats now lead the conference standings by seven full games over second place Sonoma State. The doubleheader loss dropped Cal State Dominguez Hills to 11-23 overall and 7-17 in CCAA play.
 
Chico State registered a dozen hits over Friday's two games, with Cyrena Taylor and Karli Skowrup continuing to lead the 'Cats' offensive attack. Taylor extended her current hitting streak to 13 games, delivering three hits and knocking in four runs on the day. Skowrup contributed three hits and three runs batted in—the senior second baseman leads the CCAA with 40 RBI and has driven home 18 runs in her last eight games. Kristen Worley also had two hits as the 'Cats posted a solid .366 batting average for the series.

 

In the opener of Friday's double dip, Chico State went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Worley singled, stole second and scored on Taylor's triple down the left field line. The lead was short-lived, though, as Dominguez Hills plated a run against Wildcats starting pitcher Haley Gilham in the top of the third inning.
 
The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth inning. A bases-loaded walk to Ari Marsh forced home pinch runner Shelby Burdette to put the 'Cats back in front, and Taylor followed with a base hit to knock in Worley and Megan Bowley. The Toros scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh and got the potential tying run to the plate, but Gilham struck out Kayla Lock looking to end it, giving Chico State the 4-2 win.
 
Gilham went the distance in the pitcher's circle for the 17th time this year, fanning six and not walking a batter to earn the win and improving to 17-2 on the season.
 
Both teams came out swinging in the nightcap. Chico State jumped in front in the bottom of the first inning on Taylor's run-scoring sacrifice fly and an RBI double by Skowrup. The 'Cats pushed their lead to 3-0 in the second when Wendy Cardinali singled home Claire Wayne.
 
Dominguez Hills pulled to within a run by plating a pair in the top of the third inning, but the Wildcats answered in their half of the frame. Singles by Marsh, Taylor and Skowrup resulted in one run, then Taylor scored on a Toros throwing error to make it a 5-2 contest.
 
Chico State starter Naomi Monahan made the lead stand up, but she needed some help in the sixth inning. Sam Mulock came on for the 'Cats in relief, and though Dominguez Hills got the tying run to the plate, two ground ball outs thrwarted the Toros' would-be rally.
 
Dominguez Hills got the first two runners aboard in the top of the seventh inning, but again came away empty as Rachael Sandoval bounced into a double play and Chloe Wenger grounded out to end it, giving Chico State the 5-2 win, the doubleheader and the series sweep.
 
Monahan got credit for the win to move to 14-1 on the year, with Mulock picking up her second save of the season.  
 
The Wildcats take next week off before returning to action April 13th and 14th for a big four-game series with Sonoma State at University Softball Field.