STOCKTON—In this 50th season of Chico State softball, the Wildcats have experienced a dizzying array of broken records, program firsts and lengthy winning streaks. Sunday in Stockton, the 'Cats added yet another first—a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament title—to their impressive list of achievements in 2018. Fittingly, Chico State raised the tournament championship banner thanks to its 50th win of the year, an exciting 3-2 victory over Cal State San Bernardino at the University of the Pacific's Bill Simoni Field in Stockton.

 

The victory extended the Wildcats' winning streak to 25 straight as Chico State now prepares to compete in the NCAA Championship Tournament, taking place May 10-12. The official Selection Show takes place Monday at 7 a.m. and can be viewed live at www.ncaa.com. The 'Cats, ranked No. 1 in the West entering the weekend, is a strong candidate to be one of the two host sites when regional play gets underway.
 
Chico State, the No. 2-ranked team in the country, now stands at 50-3 on the year. Cal State San Bernardino fell to 30-20 overall, but despite the loss, is still expected to advance to the NCAA Championships.
 
The Wildcats had only five hits in Sunday's game, with Megan Bowley going 2-for-3 with two runs batted in. Pitcher Haley Gilham survived a shaky start to notch the complete game win and improve her season record to 26-2.
 
 

Cal State San Bernardino opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, as leadoff batter Morgan Ratliff walked and eventually came home from third on a passed ball. The Coyotes added to their lead in the second when Samantha Vacko's single off the top of the left field fence plated Dominique Walker to make it a 2-0 contest.
 
Chico State took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. The Wildcats loaded the bases, and in an 11-pitch at-bat, Amanda Flores drew a walk to force Karli Skowrup home from third. Bowley immediately followed with an opposite-field single to right to plate Bailey Akins and Claire Wayne to put the 'Cats on top 3-2.
 
The Wildcats loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third inning, but failed to score. Gilham, however, had settled into an effective groove, retiring 13 straight Coyotes batters at one point.
 
The 'Cats held on to their one-run lead as the game moved to the top of the seventh inning. San Bernardino provided plenty of drama, getting the potential tying- and go-ahead runs in scoring position with just one out. Gilham got the crucial second out by striking out Taylor Ancoca looking, which brought Vacko to the plate. She ripped a line drive that appeared destined for center field, but Cardinali lunged from her shortstop position, and with a full-on dive snared the screamer for the final out, giving the Wildcats the 3-2 win and the conference tournament championship.
 
Following play Sunday, Haley Gilham, Wendy Cardinali, Karli Skowrup, Amanda Flores and Megan Bowley were named to the CCAA All-Tournament team. Gilham, who posted all three Wildcats wins, was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.