Sunday was Senior Day for the Chico State baseball team at Nettleton Stadium. As the 12 seniors were celebrated with their loved ones on the field in the traditional pregame ceremony, the public address announcer ended his reading of each player's accomplishments with, "Thanks for the memories," and "let's make some more!"
 
It didn't take long for them to do just that.
 
The Wildcats batted around in the first inning and did so again in the eighth as they jumped on Cal State Dominguez Hills before pulling away for good in a 13-7 victory, as they took their third straight series by claiming three of four games and winning for the 11th time in 14 contests overall.
 
Kyle Blakeman will recall his Senior Day with great fondness, as he pounded out a 4-for-4 day with three extra-base hits that included a solo home run and two doubles to go with three runs scored and three runs batted in. 
 
Fellow senior RJ Hassey totaled five RBIs on two hits, a two-run single in the first inning and a bases-clearing triple in the eighth while team captain Cameron Santos walked three times and scored after each one, and senior shortstop Casey Henderson reached base twice and scored two runs.
 
That backed the pitching performances of three senior relievers. Anthony Baleto (2-2) earned the win with three scoreless innings. Dan Beavers and Jae Wagner finished off the Toros with an inning apiece. 

 
The victory improved the Wildcats to 27-17 overall and 23-15 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Toros dropped to 13-29 overall and 10-26 in the CCAA.
 
Chico State solidified its hold on third place in the conference standings behind Cal State Monterey Bay and UC San Diego, which are both at 24-12. Cal Poly Pomona, the Wildcats' next opponent, is fourth at 20-16 with not much separating Sonoma State (19-17), San Francisco State (19-17), Cal State LA (18-18), Cal State East Bay (17-19), and Stanislaus State (17-21) with two series left to play.
 
Six teams qualify for the CCAA Championship Tournament with the winner gaining the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA West Regional.  
 
Many of today's seniors can recall memories from last year's tournament when the Wildcats won the conference tourney and got to celebrate the program's second straight CCAA title. 
 
They'd like nothing more to get another chance to make some more memories at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton. Three straight victories over Cal State Dominguez Hills helped the cause as seniors Hilario Tovar and Casey Costello provided scoreless starts on Saturday in winning efforts.
 
Even with a dozen seniors that includes pitcher Andrew Schantz, the Wildcats got plenty of contributions from underclassmen on Sunday. Alex DeVito drove in three runs, Louie Canjura had two hits and two runs scored, Dustin Miller provided two hits and an RBI, and starting pitcher Christian Stiegele went four innings before two errors behind him extended the fourth inning into a four-run Toros outburst that ended his day with the Wildcats ahead 7-4.
 
But Chico State wouldn't be denied Sunday. The 'Cats collected 13 runs on 13 hits and took advantage of free passes from Dominguez Hills starter Joe Mercado. Blakeman, Canjura, and Santos walked, ending the pitcher's day without recording an out. DeVito scored Blakeman with a sacrifice fly. After Turner Olson was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, Hassey singled through the left side, sending both Canjura and Santos home. A Miller single to right field plated Olson.

 
DeVito delivered two more runs with a single in the second inning, scoring Blakeman and Santos. Blakeman singled to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, which coincides with the Wildcats' recent surge since the end of March. Santos walked and stole second base, his 17th of the season and 67th as a Wildcat as he continues his ascension up the Chico State record book in a variety of categories. The only three-time captain in program history, Santos' three walks tied him with Mike Barney (1986-88) for first all-time with 91. He's also three steals away from the 70 of Barry Miller (1984-87) for No. 1 among all Wildcats.
 
In the third inning, Blakeman doubled home Henderson after he singled. In the sixth, Blakeman launched a solo home run to left-center for an 8-4 advantage. He doubled home Henderson again in the eighth, igniting another rally.
 
Canjura, who had already extended his hitting streak to 11 games, singled again while Santos and Jacob White walked to load the bases. Hassey laced a triple to right field as he raced around the bases while everyone else raced home. Pinch-hitter Brian Pozos cashed in on the Senior Day festivities with a double to right-center that capped the five-run eighth as Hassey headed home for a 13-4 margin.
 
Baleto retired nine of the 10 batters he faced with only an error allowing a Toro to reach against him in his outing. He struck out two batters, as did Beavers in his flawless inning.  
Senior Trevor Steinman entered the game as a defensive replacement in the ninth, capping the Wildcats' win with Wagner on the mound.  
 
Chico State has six games left in the regular season to bolster its postseason bid. The Wildcats travel to Southern California for a four-game series at Cal Poly Pomona that begins with a 1 p.m. contest on Friday with a doubleheader at noon on Saturday before the series finale at 11 a.m. next Sunday.
 
The Wildcats finish the regular season with a doubleheader against Stanislaus State at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 4 at Nettleton Stadium. Those games were rescheduled from Feb. 18 when the field was unplayable.