STOCKTON—Before the first inning was over, the Chico State softball team showed exactly why it had earned the top seed in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament. Cyrena Taylor, Bailey Akins and Wendy Cardinali all ripped home runs as the Wildcats scored eight runs in the opening frame, and with the conference's Most Valuable Pitcher Haley Gilham in the circle, the 'Cats cruised to a 12-0 win over No. 4 seed Cal State San Bernardino in the opening game of the double-elimination tournament at the University of the Pacific's Bill Simoni Field in Stockton.
 
Chico State will now meet UC San Diego in the tournament's winner's bracket game, scheduled to get underway Saturday at 12 noon. The No. 2 seeded Tritons advanced Friday with a 4-3 victory over No. 3 Stanislaus State.

Fans can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website. Live streaming video is also available online.
 
The tournament-opening victory improved Chico State's season record to 48-3. The Wildcats, ranked No. 1 in the NCAA West Region and No. 2 in the nation, have now won 23 straight games and have not lost since falling to UC San Diego back on March 16. Cal State San Bernardino slipped to 28-19 on the season.

 
The three home runs were among 12 hits rapped out by the Wildcats. Cardinali came up a double short of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in. Akins had two hits and knocked in three runs, while Karli Skowrup and Amanda Flores delivered two hits apiece.
 
The Wildcats certainly started things off with a bang. After Gilham retired Cal State San Bernardino in order in the top of the first inning, Chico State sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the frame, scoring eight times. Cardinali scored from third on a Coyotes error, then two-run homers by both Taylor and Akins quickly ballooned the lead to 5-0. But the 'Cats weren't done—with Flores and Claire Wayne aboard, Cardinali hit a home run just inside the left field foul pole to put Chico State up 8-0.
 
The Wildcats added to their advantage in the bottom of the second inning. Skowrup doubled home Ari Marsh, Akins followed with an RBI single and Taylor scored on a groundout by Flores to make it an 11-0 contest.
 
Gilham allowed just two hits over three shutout innings, then Sam Mulock took over in the circle and tossed a scoreless top of the fourth. Chico State scored its final run in the bottom of the fourth, as Megan Bowley's two-out single plated Wayne.
 
Naomi Monahan came on in relief for the 'Cats and set down San Bernardino in order in the top of the fifth inning, striking out Taylor Ancona looking to end it and locking down Chico State's 12-0 victory.
 
Gilham got credit for the win to move to 24-2 on the year, breaking her own Chico State record for victories in a single season. It was also her 80th career win.