A tightly-played series was anticipated when the Chico State and UC San Diego softball teams squared off Sunday in the opening doubleheader of a huge four-game set. The top two teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), separated by just a half-game, and both nationally ranked (Chico State No. 4, UC San Diego No. 16), the Wildcats and Tritons did not disappoint with a thrilling pair of nail-biters both decided by one run. UC San Diego walked away with a sweep of the twin bill, needing nine innings to edge the 'Cats 4-3 in the opener, then holding for a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.
Sunday's two losses dropped Chico State to 18-7 overall and into second place in the CCAA standings with a 16-6 conference record. UC San Diego moved past the Wildcats into first place, as the Tritons improved to 20-6 overall and 18-5 in CCAA play.
The Wildcats provided plenty of offense in both contests, pounding out a combined 20 hits. And while Chico State did generate a handful of clutch hits, there were far too many scoring chances that went unexploited, as evidenced by a total of 20 runners left on base.
Amanda Metzger and Ari Marsh each racked up four hits on the day, with Wendy Cardinali posting three hits and driving in four runs. Claire Wayne and Kristin Worley also had three hits, but it wasn't enough to keep Chico State from dropping both ends of a doubleheader for the first time since April 14, 2017.
Marsh's four hits gives her 213 as a Wildcat, moving her past Desiree' Gonzalez into second place on Chico State's career hits list. She is now just eight hits shy of tying Alli Cook's program record of 221 hits.
Game one of the double dip featured a matchup of arguably two of the CCAA's top pitchers: the Wildcats' Brooke Larsen against UC San Diego lefty Robyn Wampler. The two hurlers lived up to the pregame hype, matching each other zero for zero through the first four frames. In the top of the fifth, Sherriah Harrington led off the inning with a home run to left, giving the Tritons a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats answered in their half of the fifth, with Metzger ripping a double to center field and scoring on Cardinali's two-out single up the middle.
The game remained deadlocked until the top of the seventh when Mikaila Reyes put UC San Diego back in front with an RBI double to make it 2-1. Chico State answered in the bottom of the seventh, as Metzger doubled, was sacrificed to third by Worley, and came home on a Cardinali sacrifice fly, sending the contest into extra innings.
Reyes burned the 'Cats again in the top of the ninth inning, bombing a two-run homer over the left field fence. The Tritons' third lead of the game was hardly safe, as Chico State responded with a run in the bottom of the ninth when Worley led off the frame with a double and scored on a Cardinali single to center. The Wildcats had the potential tying and winning runs aboard with one out, but Wampler was able to retire both Larsen and Wayne to end it, giving UC San Diego the 4-3 victory.
Larsen pitched all nine innings for the 'Cats and struck out six, but was tagged with the hard-luck loss to slip to 11-2 on the season.
Chico State struggled defensively in the nightcap, committing four errors in the first four innings. A Wildcats miscue in the top of the first led to an unearned run for the Tritons, and in the top of the fourth inning an errant throw to first by the 'Cats allowed two runs to score to put UC San Diego up 3-0.
The Wildcats clawed their way back into the contest, getting on the board in the bottom of the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Marsh and Wayne. Chico State threatened again in the bottom of the fifth, prompting the Tritons to bring Wampler in to relieve starting pitcher Alanna Phillips. Cardinali greeted the Tritons' ace with a single to left to plate Shelby Burdette, pulling the 'Cats to within a run.
Chico State had a chance to tie the game in the sixth and seventh innings, but came away empty both times. In the sixth Metzger roped a one-out triple to the base of the right field fence, but the Wildcats couldn't get her home. In the bottom of the seventh, Cardinali coaxed a two-out walk and advanced to second on a single by Marsh. Amanda Flores then shot a line drive down the first base line that was snagged just behind the bag by the Tritons' Brittney Ross-Smith, ending the game and giving UC San Diego the 3-2 victory and the doubleheader sweep.
Sam Mulock started in the circle for the Wildcats and allowed just one earned run in five innings of work, but took the loss to fall to 4-2 on the year.
The Wildcats and Tritons are scheduled to conclude their four-game series Monday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m., weather permitting. The forecast for Chico is calling for rain throughout the day.
