TURLOCK—For the first time this season, the Chico State softball team's pitching staff scuffled, while the Wildcat offense, after putting up big numbers in the opener, fell strangely silent in the nightcap of Monday's series-ending doubleheader with Stanislaus State. The 'Cats came from behind to win game one of the twin bill 9-5, but had to be content with a doubleheader and series split as the host Warriors won the nightcap 4-1.
With the doubleheader split, Chico State now stands at 19-2 on the season, and 14-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Stanislaus State sits at 5-5 in conference play and 10-7 overall.
The Wildcats cranked out 15 hits on the afternoon, 11 coming on the front end of the twinbill. Kristin Worley rapped out three hits, scored three times and stole three bases to lead the Chico State offense, while Ari Marsh had three hits and knocked in two runs. Wendy Cardinali, Karli Skowrup and Cyrena Taylor added two hits apiece to the 'Cats' attack.
Chico State drew first blood in the first game of Monday's double dip, as Cardinali led off the top of the third inning with her third home run of the year. Stanislaus State knotted things up with a run in the bottom of the third, but the Wildcats once again went to the big fly—in back-to-back fashion—to re-take the lead in the top of the fourth: Bailey Akins ripped her sixth homer of the season over the left field fence, and Taylor bombed her second round-tripper of the year to right, putting the 'Cats up 3-1.
The Warriors used a two-out rally to plate a run and trim the Wildcats' advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning, only to see Chico State get it back in the top of the fifth. Worley reached on an infield single, stole second, advanced to third on a Marsh groundout and scored on a wild pitch to give the 'Cats a 4-2 lead.
Stanislaus roared back to score three times in the bottom of the fifth inning to go out in front 5-4, but the Wildcats took control of the contest in their next at-bat. Taylor started the sixth inning rally with a one-out double, then Megan Bowley tied the game with a single up the middle to plate pinch runner Shelby Burdette. Worley put the 'Cats back in front, chasing home Bowley with a double to center field, and Marsh followed with a two-run single to knock in Cardinali and Worley. Skowrup capped off the five-run outburst with an RBI single to drive in Marsh to extend Chico State's lead to 9-5.
Amanda Flores, who came in from the 'Cats' bullpen to record the final two outs of the fifth inning, did the rest. The junior right-hander retired Stanislaus State in order in both the sixth and seventh innings to cement Chico State's wild 9-5 win and earn the first victory of her Wildcats pitching career.
Stanislaus State jumped out in front in game two with a run in the bottom of the second inning, but missed a chance to build a big lead by leaving the bases loaded. Chico State tied the game in the top of the third when Skowrup singled home Worley; the Warriors answered in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of two walks and a pair of passed balls to plate a run and go up 2-1.
Stanislaus added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, forcing the Wildcats to mount a late-inning comeback. It was not to be—Chico State got the leadoff batter aboard in the sixth, but came away empty, then went down 1-2-3 in the seventh to drop the 4-1 decision and split both Monday's doubleheader and the four-game set.
The Wildcats return home this weekend to take on CCAA rival Cal State Monterey Bay (11-9, 6-5 CCAA). The four-game series will begin with a doubleheader starting at noon, followed by a Saturday twin bill getting underway at 11 a.m.
