The Chico State softball team kept its program-record winning streak intact Thursday during the opening round of the NCAA West Regional, but the top-seeded Wildcats needed a late-inning rally against No. 8 Northwest Nazarene to do it. Down 2-0, the 'Cats scored a run in the fifth and erupted for four more in the sixth to down the Nighthawks 5-2 at University Softball Field, stretching their win streak to 26 straight and moving to the winner's bracket in the double-elimination tournament.
Chico State, now 51-3 on the year, will take on California Baptist Friday at 11 a.m., with the winner advancing to Championship Saturday. The No.4-seeded Lancers reached the winner's bracket with a 3-1 victory over No. 5 UC San Diego.
Haley Gilham retired the final seven
Northwest Nazarene batters she faced to
record her 27th victory of the season.
Northwest Nazarene slipped to 31-22 overall and will face UC San Diego in Friday's loser's bracket game at 1:30 p.m.
The 'Cats collected seven hits on the afternoon, with Ari Marsh and Megan Bowley notching two hits apiece. Kristin Worley delivered the biggest hit of the day, lining a two-run single to center in the sixth inning to cap off Chico State's four-run rally.
Wildcats pitcher Haley Gilham kept Northwest Nazarene off the scoreboard through the first three frames, but wiggled out of a first inning jam thanks to a run-saving defensive play by Wendy Cardinali. Gilham was not as lucky in the top of the fourth, as the Nighthawks used three singles and a Chico State error to plate a pair and grab a 2-0 lead. Northwest Nazarene had a chance to add to its advantage, but left the bases loaded in the top of the fifth.
The 'Cats couldn't do much offensively against Northwest Nazarene starter Jordan Adams, who held Chico State to just two singles and struck out five through the first four innings. But the Wildcats broke through in the bottom of the fifth, and it took just one swing from Claire Wayne to cut the Nighthawks' lead in half. Wayne bombed her eighth home run of the year to left-center field, making it a 2-1 game.
The Wildcats come pouring out of the dugout following
Kristin Worley's big two-run single in the sixth inning.
Northwest Nazarene was still hanging onto the lead when Chico State batted around in the bottom of the sixth. A bad-hop single off the bat of Cyrena Taylor, a fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases, setting the stage for Amanda Flores, who was hit by a pitch to force Taylor home with the tying run. Bowley stepped to the plate and drew a bases-loaded walk to put the 'Cats in front, and with two outs, Worley delivered a clutch single to center to chase home Bailey Akins and Angel Lopez and extend Chico State's lead to three.
Gilham did the rest, setting down the Nighthawks 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh inning to put the finishing touches on Chico State's come-from-behind 5-2 victory.
Gilham chalked up her 26th complete game while earning her 27th win of the season.
California Baptist 3, UC San Diego 1
Runs were at a premium as the No. 14 Lancers and No. 21 Tritons kicked off the day's action. The NCAA West Region opener featured an outstanding pitchers' duel between Cal Baptist's Ciara Stapp and Robyn Wampler of UC San Diego. In a game that took only an hour-and-a-half to complete, the Lancers scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the third inning Halle Rosario provided the big blow with a two-run single, while Stapp held the Tritons to just a run on three hits while striking out six in a complete-game effort. The victory improved Cal Baptist's season record to 34-10; UC San Diego slipped to 35-18 overall.
