Opening Day 2019 at Nettleton Stadium started fairly well for the host Chico State baseball team. With the way it ended, the Wildcats are surely grateful for the chance to quickly make a new memory in Friday's season finale.
After jumping out to a 10-2 lead, Chico State held on to beat Simpson University of Redding 10-8 in the opener. The momentum generated by the Red Hawks' six-run ninth inning carried over into the nightcap, however, which Simpson won 9-0.
The loss was the Wildcats' first of the season, dropping them to 3-1. Simpson is now 4-3. The series concludes with a single game Friday at noon at Nettleton Stadium that is free to the public.
Chico State scored three times in the first inning of the opener, staking starter Grant Larson to a 3-1 lead. The junior left-hander surrendered only two runs (one earned) in six innings of work, improving to 2-0 on the season. He struck out seven and walked two.
The Wildcats built a 5-2 lead behind him. Jorge Perez and Turner Olson drove in runs in the first, and Myles Moran forced home another run by drawing a bases-loaded walk.
Griffin Hennessey leaps to snare a ball out of
the air over the second base bag.
(Photo by Skip Reager)
Chico State scored twice more in the third to stretch the lead to 5-1. Moran drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Aaron Lizarraga doubled home another run.
The lead was 5-2 in the seventh before Perez singled home another run.
Following Alex Kent's second scoreless inning in relief, the Wildcats broke it open in the eighth. Kristian Scott and Alex DeVito opened the frame with consecutive singles. Eddie Zavala drew a walk to load the bases. Perez drove in a run with a ground ball ahead of Olson's two-run triple. Kyle Pineda's RBI grounder wrapped up the Wildcats' scoring.
Simpson actually rallied for six runs in the ninth before Connor Sealey got the final out with a ground ball to collect his first save as a Wildcat.
Olson finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI. Perez went 2-for-5 with three RBI. Aaron Lizarraga and DeVito had two hits apiece.
In the second game, Simpson's five-run third inning broke the game open and Andrew Cisneros (2-0) spun a complete-game seven-hitter.
Friday's game will be streamed online at
www.chicowildcats.com. Links to streaming video and live stats are also available there.
Below are more sights and sounds from Opening Day 2019 at Nettleton Stadium...
Jorge Perez loads up for a swing. Perez drove in three runs in the opening-game win.
(Photo by Skip Reager)
Grant Larson earned the win in the opener, improving to 2-0 on the season.
(Photo by Skip Reager)
