SAN FRANCISCO—You kind of get the feeling this is the Wildcats' year. Even in the most dire of situations, the Chico State softball team has repeatedly figured out ways to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat. The Wildcats did it again in truly dramatic fashion during Friday's series-opening doubleheader against San Francisco State—following Haley Gilham's 3-0 shutout in game one, Amanda Flores blasted a grand slam with two outs in the seventh inning of the nightcap to tie the contest, then delivered the game-winning hit in the ninth as the No. 2 'Cats completed the sweep by downing the Gators 10-6.
The win in game two also represented an impressive milestone for Chico State head coach Angel Shamblin. Already the winningest coach in the program's 50-year history, Shamblin earned her 300th career victory since taking over the Wildcats' head job in 2010.
Haley Gilham's two-hit shutout in game one
set new Chico State records for shutouts in
a season (12) and in a career (28).
Friday's two wins moves Chico State to 45-3 overall and 35-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). San Francisco State's postseason aspirations took a huge hit with the doubleheader loss, as the Gators fell to 24-29 on the season and 19-19 in conference play.
The Wildcats racked up 19 hits on the day, 15 coming in the nightcap. Flores, Wendy Cardinali, Ari Marsh, Kristin Worley and Karli Skowrup led a balanced offense, collecting three hits apiece.
In game one of Friday's twin bill, the Wildcats staked Gilham to an early lead when Marsh singled home Worley in the top of the first inning.
Gilham retired the first nine San Francisco State batters she faced—five by strikeout—before Michelle Castro singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. Wildcats' catcher Claire Wayne promptly threw out the CCAA's top base stealer trying to swipe second, helping Chico State maintain its 1-0 lead.
The Gators got the potential tying run in scoring position in both the fifth and sixth inning, but each time Gilham snuffed out the rally and kept San Francisco State off the scoreboard.
Amanda Flores receives a hero's welcome after bombing a
game-tying grand slam with two out in the seventh inning.
The Wildcats' couldn't get much going offensively until the top of the seventh, when they plated a pair of big insurance runs. Flores led off the inning with a double, followed by a base hit by Cardinali, which sent pinch-runner Angel Lopez to third. A passed ball got Lopez home, with Cardinali ending up at third base. Worley promptly delivered a sacrifice fly, cashing in Cardinali and giving the 'Cats a three-run advantage.
Now with a little breathing room, Gilham breezed through the bottom of the seventh, retiring San Francisco State in order to put the finishing touches on the Wildcats' 3-0 win. The 'Cats' ace allowed just two hits and fanned nine to improve to 22-2 on the season. Her NCAA Division II-leading 12th shutout of the year was also the 28th of her career—both new Chico State records.
Game two of Friday's double dip saw the Gators open the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Chico State got runners aboard in every inning, but didn't break through until the top of the fourth—following a Cyrena Taylor double, Skowrup singled home pinch-runner Annie Weiss and later scored when Megan Bowley drew a two-out bases-loaded walk, tying the game at 2-2.
The Wildcat had a chance to take the lead in the top of the fifth inning, but stranded the bases loaded. San Francisco State responded in its half of the frame with a two-out RBI single by Andrea Hildan to put the Gators back in front. Katie Rohrer's two-run double extended San Francisco State's lead to 5-2.
The Wildcats celebrate Angel Shamblin's (far left) 300th career
victory as Chico State head coach following the game two win.
The Gators added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning, forcing the Wildcats to come up with some last inning heroics to keep their winning streak alive. Flores delivered: with two outs and Taylor, Skowrup, and Wayne aboard, Flores launched a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence; the dramatic grand slam tying the game at 6-6.
San Francisco State appeared to have an answer to the 'Cats' seventh inning miracle, loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh. With the winning run at third, Bowley pulled off a game-saving double play, catching a fly ball in left field off the bat of Mallory Cleveland and then gunning down Hayley Nunes at the plate for the third out, sending the contest to extra innings.
Both teams got runners aboard in the eighth, but did not score. With one out in the top of the ninth, Chico State loaded the bases, once again setting the stage for Flores. The junior promptly ripped a double to left to chase home Skowrup and Bailey Akins and put the 'Cats on top. Before the inning was over, Cardinali came through with an RBI single and Worley drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, giving Chico State a 10-6 lead.
San Francisco State was unable to recover from the second Chico State uprising of the game, and Sam Mulock—the third of three Wildcat pitchers—retired the Gators in order in the bottom of the ninth inning to cement the come-from-behind 10-6 victory and the doubleheader sweep.
Mulock got credit for the win to move to 6-0 on the year.
Chico State and San Francisco State wrap up the series and the regular season Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Fans can follow the action online with Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
