Though the recent wet weather forced the postponement of this weekend's Chico State-Humboldt State softball series, the Wildcats and Lumberjacks wasted little time in rescheduling the four-game set. Hoping to take advantage of a forecasted window of sunshine in the Chico area, the series is now set for this Monday and Tuesday, February 18–19, with doubleheaders each day beginning at noon at University Softball Field.
Fans unable to attend in person can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats, available via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live streaming video will also be available online.
Chico State and Humboldt State represents one of the most intense rivalries in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)—there is no shortage of excitement whenever the Wildcats and Lumberjacks lock horns on the softball diamond. The fact that the four-game set is an important early-season conference series for both teams makes the matchup even more thrilling.
The Wildcats come in with a 6-1 overall record and a share of first place in the CCAA with a 4-0 conference mark. Though rain, fierce winds, and soggy field conditions interrupted last weekend's series against San Francisco State, Chico State was able to sweep the Gators in four straight games.
Due to the rains, Humboldt State has not played since Super Bowl Sunday. The wet weather forced the rescheduling of its February 8–9 series against Sonoma State to mid-March, and the uncertain weekend weather will make the Lumberjacks wait an extra couple of days before getting to face the Wildcats.
Humboldt State is 2-1 on the season and has yet to play a CCAA conference game. The last time the Lumberjacks were on the field, they lost 11-1 to Colorado Christian on the final day of the Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas.
Chico State enters the series batting .306 as a team, and leads the CCAA with eight home runs. The Wildcats' pitching staff boasts the top earned run average among the 11 conference teams at 1.34.
Though Humboldt State has played only three games, they've proven to be a solid team offensively, batting a collective .348 while averaging seven runs a game. The 'Jacks' pitching staff owns a 5.60 ERA.
Since 1983, Humboldt has won 97 of 139 meetings with the Wildcats. In recent years, the two teams have played it much more evenly on the softball field, with Chico State winning six of the last 10 matchups. Last season, the 'Cats swept a four-game series with the Lumberjacks April 20–21 in Arcata.
