ST. GEORGE, Utah—With each Chico State softball victory, the statistics become more impressive; the expectations escalate ever higher, and the season-long dream of reaching the Division II College World Series gets tantalizingly closer. Thanks to Thursday's 6-0 victory over Dixie State in the opener of the NCAA West Super Regional, the Wildcats find themselves just one win away from punching their ticket to Salem, Virginia. Chico State now goes into Friday with two chances to notch one "W" and become one of eight teams nationwide advancing to the NCAA Championship Finals.
Haley Gilham allowed just one hit past the third inning to record her
Division II-leading 16th shutout of the season.
Behind an aggressive eight-hit offensive attack and the three-hit shutout pitching of Haley Gilham, the Wildcats—ranked No. 2 in the country—won their 29th consecutive game to improve to 54-3 on the season. Dixie State, the No. 18 team in the nation, slipped to 41-9 overall.
Karli Skowrup enjoyed a 3-for-4 day at the plate, scoring twice and driving in two runs with her 13th home run of the year. Megan Bowley collected a pair of RBI, with Claire Wayne and Amanda Flores contributing run-scoring singles. Gilham struck out five in going the distance in the pitcher's circle for the 29th time this season and raising her season record to 30-2.
Both teams put runners in scoring position in the first inning, but the Wildcats stranded Wendy Cardinali at third base in the top of the frame, while Dixie State couldn't capitalize on back-to-back two-out walks.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the bottom of the second, stringing together four straight hits—a leadoff single by Skowrup, a double by Bailey Akins and base hits by Wayne and Flores—to put Chico State on top 2-0.
Dixie State made a bid to answer in the top of the third, putting two aboard with back-to-back one-out singles. Gilham quickly short-circuited the rally by striking out Bailey Gaffin and getting Kenzie Sawyer to ground out to end the inning.
The Wildcats greet Karli Skowrup en masse at home plate after her
two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Chico State extended its advantage in the bottom of the third inning. Walks to Akins, Wayne and Cyrena Taylor loaded the bases, and with two outs, Bowley dropped a single into shallow right field to drive home a pair and put the Wildcats up 4-0.
The 'Cats added two more in the bottom of the fourth, this time courtesy of the long ball. With Kristin Worley aboard, Skowrup launched a "touch 'em all" bomb over the left-center field fence, instantly upping Chico State's lead to 6-0.
That would be more than enough offense for Gilham, who after surrendering the third inning singles set down 13 of the next 15 Dixie State batters she faced. The Trailblazers made her work for that final squeeze—Kaitlyn Delange singled with two outs in the seventh, and the next hitter, Janessa Bennett, worked the count full, fouling back several two-strike pitches. Gilham finally got Bennett to bounce out to Skowrup at second base, cementing Chico State's 6-0 victory.
The Wildcats and Dixie State meet again at 12 noon Pacific time for game two of the NCAA West Super Regional. A Chico State win will send the 'Cats to the May 24-28 NCAA Championship Finals. If the Trailblazers win and even up the series Friday, a winner-take-all third game will be played approximately 35 minutes following the completion of the noon game.
Fans can follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video through the Wildcat Athletics website.
