ARCATA—If it hadn't proven it already this season, the Chico State softball team made it clear Friday that #Team50 just flat out refuses to lose. The Wildcats, kicking off a four-game series in Arcata against Humboldt State, used a three-hit shutout by Haley Gilham to win the opener 7-0, then staged a huge comeback in the nightcap, scoring four times in the seventh inning to top the Lumberjacks 10-8. The'Cats' ran their current winning streak to 16, and in the process set a new Chico State single-season victories mark.
Only twice before, in 1980 and again in 2016, had a Chico State softball team won 40 games in a season. In what has already been a memorable 50th season in the program's history, the 2018 edition of the Wildcats can now lay sole claim to one of the most prestigious accomplishments in the entire Chico State softball record book.
The 'Cats, which entered the series with Humboldt State No. 3 in the nation and No. 1 in the NCAA West Region rankings, moved to 41-3 on the year and 31-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Lumberjacks slipped to 19-23 overall and 14-14 in conference play.
Wendy Cardinali homered in both games of Friday's doubleheader
against Humboldt State, pushing her season big fly total to eight.
The Wildcats continued their season-long home run barrage Friday, belting five round-trippers on the day. Wendy Cardinali delivered a big fly in each game of the doubleheader, with Amanda Flores, Claire Wayne and Karli Skowrup also going big fly. Skowrup's homer ignited the winning four-run rally in game two and gave her five RBI in the contest.
Chico State piled up 16 hits over the two games, with Skowrup and Ari Marsh collecting three safeties apiece. Cardinali and Kristin Worley also enjoyed a multi-hit day as the Wildcats won back-to-back games in Arcata for the first time since 2012.
Cardinali set the tone for the 'Cats in game one of Friday's double dip, leading off the contest with her seventh home run of the year. Later in the opening frame, Worley followed with a base hit, stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored on a passed ball to give Chico State a 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats put another crooked number on the board in the top of the second inning. A base hit by Flores, and walks to Cardinali and Megan Bowley loaded the bases with nobody out. Worley plated Flores with a sacrifice fly to right field, then with Marsh at the plate, Cardinali stole second. The throw from Humboldt catcher Micaela Harris went into center field, allowing Bowley to score, and Marsh followed with a single to right to drive in Cardinali to extend the 'Cats' advantage to 5-0.
Flores led off the Chico State third inning with her first career homer as a Wildcat, sending a Jasmine Hill offering over the right field fence to make it a 6-0 game.
Amanda Flores collected the first home run of her Wildcat career in the
doubleheader opener, and was the winning pitcher in the nightcap.
Gilham kept the Lumberjacks off the scoreboard, making big pitches and getting some defensive help to wiggle out of jams in the second, fourth and fifth innings. Meanwhile, Chico State added to its lead in the top of the sixth when Bailey Akins stole third on the front end of a double steal and scored when the pickoff throw sailed into left field.
Gilham tossed a scoreless bottom of the sixth and retired Humboldt in order in the seventh to finish off the shutout—her 10th of the season—and lock down the Wildcats' 7-0 victory.
With the win, Gilham improves to 20-2 on the year, becoming the first pitcher in Chico State softball history to post back-to-back 20-win seasons.
Humboldt State struck first in the nightcap, scoring unearned runs in both the first and second innings to grab a 2-0 advantage. The Wildcats answered in the top of the third, as Skrowup knocked in Cardinali, Worley and Akins with a bases-loaded triple, and scored when Wayne blasted her seventh home run of the year, putting Chico State up 5-2.
The lead didn't last long, however, as the Lumberjacks plated three runs in their half of the third inning to knot up the contest at 5-5. Cardinali put the 'Cats back in front in the fourth with one swing of the bat—her eighth home run of the year and second of the day made the score 6-5.
Humboldt State fought back, scoring three times in the bottom of the fourth to roar out in front 8-6. It stayed that way until the top of the seven inning, when the Wildcats launched their miracle comeback. Cyrena Taylor reached on an error, and with Annie Weiss pinch-running, Skowrup—the conference's RBI leader—came through again, bombing her 11th homer of the season to tie the game at eight apiece. Wayne drew a walk, and with two outs, Bowley delivered in the clutch with a double to chase home pinch runner Shelby Burdette and give Chico State a 9-8 lead.
The 'Cats weren't finished, though, finishing the four-run frame by plating an important bit of insurance. Bowley stole third as Cardinali drew a walk, then scored on a Humboldt State throwing error.
There was still the small matter of getting the last three outs, and Humboldt State wasn't about to roll over, getting the tying run to the plate with nobody out in the last of the seventh. With two on and two outs, head coach Angel Shamblin brought Gilham back to the pitcher's circle to get the crucial final squeeze. The senior did not disappoint, getting Hanna Holland to ground out to Skowrup at second to end the game and give the Wildcats the record-breaking 10-8 win and the doubleheader sweep.
Flores, the second of three Wildcat pitchers used in game two, got credit for the win to improve to 2-0 on the season, with Gilham notching her third save of the season.
The Wildcats and Lumberjacks conclude their four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. Fans can follow the action on the Internet via Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website. Live streaming video will also be available online.
