LAS VEGAS—After rain washed out a pair of games Saturday at the Desert Stinger Tournament, the Chico State softball team was eager to get back on the field Sunday in its final tournament contest against Western Oregon. The Wildcats took a 2-0 lead into the top of the sixth inning, only to see the Wolves score seven times over the last two frames and down the No. 7 'Cats 7-2 at Majestic Park in Las Vegas.
The loss dropped Chico State to 2-1 on the young season. Western Oregon improved to 3-0 overall.
The Wildcats could only generate four hits against Wolves' pitching Sunday, as Wendy Cardinali, Kristin Worley, Amanda Flores, and Reilani Peleti all posted singles.
Chico State staked starting pitcher Brooke Larsen to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Worley singled home pinch runner Ana Hayes, and a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Bailey Akins plated Cardinali.
It looked like that would be enough offense for the Wildcats to win the game. Larsen was brilliant in the early going, striking out the first five Western Oregon batters she faced, and allowing just a lone infield single in her first five innings of work.
The Wolves' bats finally got cooking in the top of the sixth. Mariah DeLeon delivered an RBI single, and Cheyanne Rimer followed with an RBI double to tie the game. A two-out Wildcats error allowed the go-ahead run to score, giving Western Oregon a 3-2 lead.
Chico State had no answer for Wolves lefthander Maddie Mayer, who did not allow a hit in four innings of relief and retired 12 of the 15 Wildcats she faced. Western Oregon put the game away with four unearned runs in the top of the seventh against 'Cats' relievers Naomi Monahan and Sam Mulock, and Mayer retired the Wildcats without incident in the bottom of the seventh to lock down the Wolves' 7-2 victory.
Following Sunday's action, the Desert Stinger All-Tournament team was announced, with Larsen the lone Chico State representative.
The Wildcats open up California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play with their first home games of the season this weekend, taking on the Gators of San Francisco State (3-0 at the Desert Stinger Tournament). The four-game series gets underway Friday with a 12 noon doubleheader, followed by a Saturday twinbill beginning at 11 a.m.
