There were more than a few tears shed by the Chico State softball team Saturday, as the Wildcats honored Bailey Akins, Wendy Cardinali, Amanda Flores, Ari Marsh, Naomi Monahan, and Claire Wayne in a special pregame Senior Day ceremony. But when things turned toward the business at hand, smiles definitely ruled the day. The 'Cats combined outstanding pitching and timely hitting to take both ends of their series-ending doubleheader with Stanislaus State, topping the Warriors 6-0 and 5-2 to win the four-game set three games to one in action at University Softball Field.
The two Saturday wins raised Chico State's season record to 26-12, and moved the Wildcats back into second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings with a 20-10 conference mark. Stanislaus State dropped to 18-29 overall and 11-21 in CCAA play.
Brooke Larsen took a no-hitter in the seventh inning
of game one Saturday, but settled for a one-hit
shutout. Photo courtesy of Matthew Bates.
The 'Cats received two strong pitching performances from Brooke Larsen and Naomi Monahan, who each logged a complete game victory. Larsen took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of game one, but had to settle for her sixth shutout of the year. Monahan scattered five hits in the nightcap, shutting out the Warriors over the final four frames to earn her second win of the series.
The Chico State offense did its share of damage Saturday, banging out 15 hits on the afternoon. Wendy Cardinali and Bailey Akins had three hits apiece to lead an evenly-balanced attack which saw 11 different Wildcats post a hit.
The 'Cats took control early in game one, jumping out to a lead with a pair of first inning runs. Kristin Worley led off the frame with a walk, stole second, and scored on Cardinali's double to left. Two batters later Cardinali came home on a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Amanda Flores.
Bailey Akins delivered three hits and a pair of RBI
in the final home games of her Chico State career.
Photo courtesy of Matthew Bates.
The Wildcats put up another crooked number in the bottom of the third inning. Flores doubled and would score from third on a wild pitch, while Akins provided an RBI single to plate Larsen. With Akins and Shelby Burdette aboard, Chico State pulled a double steal; Burnette coming home on a Stanislaus throwing error to make the score 5-0.
Larsen rolled her way through the Warriors lineup, not allowing a hit and striking out nine in her first six innings of work. The Wildcats added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Cardinali doubled and came home on another Stanislaus throwing error.
Larsen lost her no-hit bid in the top of the seventh when Maya Yoshiura shot a clean single to right field. The Warriors threatened to break up her shutout as well, loading the bases with nobody out. But Larsen bore down, inducing a grounder that resulted in a force-out at home, then got Desiree Gonzalez to pop up and Kayla Fajardo to bounce out to short to end it, giving Chico State the 6-0 victory.
With the win, Larsen logged her 16th compete game of the season and raised her overall record to 16-4.
In the nightcap, Chico State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Cardinali doubled and later scored on a throwing error. Stanislaus answered with a run in the top of the second, but the Wildcats went back in front in the bottom of the frame as Rachael Atkins doubled, was sacrificed to third and came home on another Warriors error. The lead didn't last long, though, as Stanislaus plated a run in the top of the third inning to knot things up at 2-2.
All three of Wendy's Cardinali's hits Saturday were
doubles, giving the senior 12 two-baggers on the
year. Photo courtesy of Matthew Bates.
The Wildcats went ahead to stay in the bottom of the third. Flores and Burdette pulled a double steal, and Akins promptly chased Burdette home on a base hit to right field. Akins then stole second, setting the stage for Angel Lopez. On the heels of delivering a game-winning, pinch-hit home run Friday, Lopez delivered again, shooting a pinch double down the left field line to drive home a pair and put the 'Cats on top 5-2.
That would be all Monahan needed, as the senior righty allowed only one Stanislaus hit over the final four innings to put the finishing touches on Chico State's 5-2 win, sealing the doubleheader sweep and the series win.
Monahan registered her third complete game of the season and raised her season record to 4-2.
Chico State concludes regular season play next week, when the Wildcats travel to Hayward to take on Cal State East Bay. The four-game series begins Friday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader, followed by a Saturday twin bill at 11 a.m.
