SAN MARCOS—Coming off arguably its best six-game stretch of the season, the Chico State baseball team hoped to continue that momentum in its series opener at Cal State San Marcos Friday night. Instead, the Wildcats let two leads slip away before falling 8-6.
The good news for the Wildcats is that they have a chance to recapture that forward thrust Saturday when the teams reconvene for a doubleheader at noon. Those games, and Sunday's 11 a.m. series finale, will be broadcast locally on AM-1290 KPAY.
Louie Canjura's two-run single staked Chico State to a 2-0 lead in the third, but the host Cougars struck back with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. The Wildcats reclaimed the lead in the sixth on RJ Hassey's two-run single, making it 4-3. But Cal State San Marcos tied the game in the sixth and then put together the decisive four-run rally in the seventh before holding on for the win.
Chico State slipped to 21-16 overall and 17-14 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with just its second loss in the last seven games. Cal State San Marcos improved to 16-19 overall and 11-18 in the CCAA.
Casey Henderson tied a Chico State record by
drawing four walks Friday.
Canjura finished with a pair of hits, Tyler Stofiel went 3-for-5, Hassey drove in three runs, and Casey Henderson tied the Chico State record with four bases on balls. The Wildcats cashed in three of those walks with runs.
But their failure to cash in on other opportunities cost them. After Canjura's two-run single in the third they still had two on and just one out. After a strikeout they loaded the bases when Alex DeVito drew a free pass, but another strikeout ended the inning.
The Wildcats also loaded the bases in the ninth, but Luke Hussung was called out on strikes to end the game.
Anthony Baleto, brilliant in his last six outings, having allowed just one earned run in 11-plus innings, had a rare rough outing in relief to absorb the loss. The senior surrendered four runs on four hits in just a third of an inning to fall to 1-1. Starter Grant Larson allowed four runs in six innings. Andrew Lopez retired the last five Cougars, allowing two hits and no runs.
