The Chico State softball team needed a positive jolt Friday in its series-opening conference series against Stanislaus State—and the Wildcats got it from the most diminutive player on the field. The 'Cats committed three errors and let a three-run lead get away in dropping the opener to the Warriors 5-3, and were deadlocked 1-1 late in the nightcap before Angel Lopez smashed a pinch-hit, two-run homer to give Chico State a 3-1 victory and a split of the twin bill at University Softball Field.
Lopez wasn't the only hero in game two of the double dip. Senior righthander Naomi Monahan shined in the pitcher's circle, allowing just one unearned run while going the distance to post her first win since February 8.
Friday's doubleheader split moved the Wildcats to 24-12 on the season, but they slipped back to third place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with an 18-10 conference record. Stanislaus State had its season record go to 18-27 overall, and 11-19 in CCAA play.
Chico State piled up 16 hits on the afternoon, with Kristin Worley collecting five hits and stealing four bases. Wendy Cardinali, Bailey Akins, and Reilani Peleti each had two hits in a sloppily-played doubleheader that saw the Wildcats and Warriors combine for 10 errors.
Early on, things looked rosy for the Wildcats in the first game of the doubleheader. Six batters into the contest, Chico State was sporting a 3-0 first inning lead courtesy of a Cardinali RBI double and run-scoring singles by Ari Marsh and Claire Wayne. Stanislaus State had an immediate answer, though, plating four runs in the top of the second off Wildcats starting pitcher Brooke Larsen.
The 'Cats had little trouble getting runners aboard against Warriors starter Kylie Ragsdale, but were unable to dent the run column for the rest of the contest. Stanislaus added an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning, and though Chico State was able to get the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, Cardinali lined into a game-ending double play, giving the Warriors the 5-3 victory.
Larsen struck out five and allowed just two earned runs in four-and-a-third innings of work, but was charged with the loss to slip to 15-4 on the season.
In the nightcap, Stanislaus bunched up three hits and took advantage of a Wildcats miscue to plate an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning. It stayed 1-0 until Chico State tied things up in the bottom of the third when Worley reached second base on a throwing error, stole third and scored when the Warriors were forced to throw down to first base to complete a strikeout of Cardinali.
Both teams had multiple chances to move out in front: the Wildcats stranded runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings; Stanislaus did likewise in the fifth and sixth frames. In the bottom of the sixth, Akins reached on an infield single, setting the stage for the 5-foot-2 Lopez, who came off the Chico State bench and promptly deposited a Kyndra Marzorini offering over the left field fence, giving the 'Cats a 2-1 lead.
Monahan did the rest, with a big assist from her defense. After issuing a leadoff walk to Marzorini, she induced a 6-to-4-to-3 double play grounder off the bat of Maya Yoshiura, then got pinch-hitter Lia Tom to fly out to left to end the game, giving the Wildcats the 3-1 win and the doubleheader sweep.
Monahan struck out four in posting the complete game victory and raising her season record to 3-2.
Chico State and Stanislaus State conclude the series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 noon. It's also Senior Day, so be sure to be at University Softball Field by 11:30 a.m. for the special pregame ceremony honoring Wildcat seniors Bailey Akins, Wendy Cardinali, Amanda Flores, Ari Marsh, Naomi Monahan, and Claire Wayne.
