CARSON—The Chico State softball team hit the ball hard all afternoon in its series-opening doubleheader Friday against Cal State Dominguez Hills. And while good things usually happen when hitters are squaring up the ball, sometimes line drives hang up or are hit right at defenders. The No. 5-ranked Wildcats had no shortage of hits, but found runs a little hard to come by as Chico State won game one 5-4 before falling in the nightcap 3-1 at Toro Diamond in Carson.
Despite the doubleheader split, Chico State—16-5 on the season and 14-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)—remains atop the conference standings, percentage points ahead of second place UC San Diego. Cal State Dominguez Hills, winners of five of its last six games, moves to 15-8 overall and 13-7 in CCAA play.
Chico State offense collected 16 hits on the afternoon, including 10 in the first game of the twin bill. Kristin Worley racked up four hits, with Claire Wayne posting three hits. Ari Marsh, Reilani Peleti, and Brooke Larsen each contributed two hits to the Wildcats' cause.
In game one of Friday's double dip, Chico State broke the seal in the top of the third inning when Wendy Cardinali drew a two-out walk from Dominguez Hills starting pitcher Alyssa Olague and scored on Marsh's double to right-center. The 'Cats went up 2-0 in the top of the fourth as Worley delivered a two-out single to plate Ana Hayes.
The Wildcats widened their advantage in the top of the fifth inning. A walk to Amanda Flores and singles by Marsh and Larsen loaded the bases, setting the stage for Peleti, who promptly cleared the bags with a three-run double into the left-center field gap, putting Chico State up 5-0.
It turned out that the 'Cats would need every one of those runs. Larsen, starting in the pitcher's circle for Chico State, cruised through the first five innings, allowing just a pair of singles and not allowing a runner past first base. Dominguez Hills broke up Larsen's shutout bid with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, then came within a whisker of knotting up the contest in the seventh—with two outs, the Toros plated two more runs and put the potential tying run in scoring position. The game ended with Jazmin Guzman lining out to Worley at short, giving Chico State the 5-4 victory.
Larsen struck out seven on the way to notching her eighth complete game, and raising her season record to 10-1.
The second game of the day saw the Wildcats create several scoring opportunities, but with one exception couldn't come up with a key hit to produce runs. Chico State wasted Wayne's one-out double in the top of the second inning, then stranded runners at second and third in inning number three.
Dominguez Hills grabbed the lead in the bottom of the second inning on a two-out, two-run homer by Chloe Wenger. The 'Cats cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth when Flores led off the frame with a walk and eventually scored from third on a Bailey Akins sacrifice fly.
The Toros got the run back in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 3-1. It appeared Chico State would answer in the top of the fifth, but despite getting the first two batters aboard, the Wildcats came up empty.
With Sam Mulock on in relief to keep Dominguez Hills in check, the Wildcats tried to rally in the seventh. Worley delivered a one-out single to get the potential tying run to the plate, but Toros pitcher Ashley Wies got both Cardinali and Marsh to line out to end the game, giving Dominguez Hills the 3-1 win and the doubleheader split.
The Wildcats and Toros conclude their four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Fans can follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
