San Francisco State entered its weekend softball series with Chico State boasting an eye-popping team batting average of .467. The Wildcats brought the Gators' bats back down to earth during the four-game set at University Softball Field, limiting their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) foes to five total runs, 16 hits, and a collective .172 team batting average. In Sunday's doubleheader finale, the 'Cats held San Francisco State scoreless on just five hits, as Chico State scored a doubleheader and series sweep with wins of 7-0 and 2-0.
 
The Wildcats improved to 6-1 on the season and 4-0 in the CCAA, earning a share of first place with Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State Monterey Bay. San Francisco State, undefeated coming into the series, dropped to 3-4 overall and 0-4 in conference play.
 
Chico State's offense was cooking Sunday, banging out 20 hits over the two contests. Wendy Cardinali posted four hits on the day, with Kristin Worley, Ari Marsh, and Reiliani Peleti adding three hits apiece. Bailey Akins, Claire Wayne, and Brooke Larsen had two hits apiece as the Wildcats batted a collective .353 over the weekend.
 
In the opener of Sunday's twin bill, neither offense could get anything going early on, as Larsen and San Francisco State lefty Natalie Minteer matched each other zero for zero in the pitcher's circle over the first three innings. The Wildcats broke through for a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth when Peleti doubled home Wayne, and Larsen followed with a single to center to plate pinch runner Annie Weiss.
 
Chico State added an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Worley scored from third on a throwing error, and later in the frame, with Cardinali and Amanda Flores aboard, Akins ripped an opposite field home run to right. The three-run blast capped a four-run inning and put the 'Cats up 6-0.

 

A San Francisco State error in the bottom of the sixth inning allowed Cardinali to score from third to extend the Wildcats' advantage, and Larsen wrapped things up by retiring the Gators in order in the top of the seventh, giving Chico State the 7-0 win.
 
Larsen allowed just one hit—a third inning single by Brylynn Vallejos—on the way to posting her first shutout as a member of the Wildcats. The sophomore righthander notched her third complete game of the year and raised her record to 3-1.
 
The second game of the double dip saw lots of baserunners for both sides, but nothing but goose eggs on the scoreboard. Chico State left two aboard in the bottom of the first inning, while the Gators stranded six runners over the first five frames. San Francisco State's best chance to plate a run came in the top of the sixth, when a pair of two-out singles and a walk loaded the bases. Flores came in from the Wildcats' bullpen and quelled the rally by getting Hayley Nunez to fly out to right field, keeping the game scoreless.
 
Chico State registered the only runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth, and they came courtesy of back-to-back two-out home runs by Wayne and Peleti. Wayne sent a liner over the left field fence to put the 'Cats on the board, while Peleti crushed her bomb to straightaway center.
 
The Gators tried to rally in the top of the seventh, getting the potential tying runs aboard with two outs, but Flores got Tianna Jacques to ground out to Cardinali at second to end the game and lock down the 2-0 Wildcats' victory, securing the doubleheader—and series—sweep.
 
Flores tossed one-and-a-third innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win in her first outing in the pitcher's circle this season.   
 
The Wildcats are back in action next weekend, hosting Humboldt State at University Softball Field. The four-game series gets underway with a doubleheader Friday at noon, followed by a noon twin bill on Saturday.

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