HAYWARD—The Chico State softball team had little problem generating offense Saturday in its series-ending doubleheader against Cal State East Bay. But while the hits led to a generous handful of runs in the Wildcats' 10-5 game one victory, the absence of a timely hit late in game two proved to be their undoing, as the host Pioneers came back from three runs down to eventually edge the 'Cats 4-3 in a 10-inning nightcap, avoiding a four-game series sweep.  
 
Saturday's doubleheader split leaves Chico State with an overall record of 29-13, and a 23-11 mark in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Wildcats have clinched a spot in the upcoming CCAA Tournament, and more than likely will go into the four-day, double-elimination conference tournament as the No. 2 seed.
 
By grabbing Saturday's game two victory, Cal State East Bay improved to 12-32 on the season and 8-24 in CCAA play.

 

Chico State collected 23 hits in the double dip, with Wendy Cardinali leading the way with five knocks on the afternoon. Angel Lopez collected three doubles and a home run among her four hits, with Amanda Flores also banging out four hits and a pair of doubles. Bailey Akins and Reilani Peleti contributed three hits apiece to the 'Cats' offensive attack. Ari Marsh had just one hit on the day, but it was an historic one, as the senior became the Chico State softball program's all-time career hits leader.
 
In the first game of Saturday's twin bill, Cal State East Bay opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Chico State would vault into the lead in the top of the third—Peleti singled and scored on a two-out double by Cardinali, who came home when a popup off the bat of Lopez was dropped in short left field. Another Pioneers error allowed Lopez to score, giving the Wildcats a 3-1 advantage.
 
Jennifer Palmares launched a solo homer in the bottom of the third inning to pull East Bay to within a run, but the 'Cats used a pair of big flies to post a crooked number in the top of the fourth. With Akins aboard, Peleti ripped her third home run of the season over the left field fence, and following a Cardinali double, Lopez belted her second round-tripper of the year to push Chico State's lead to 7-2.
 
The Pioneers proved pesky, climbing back into the contest with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 7-5. Peleti gave the Wildcats some very welcome breathing room in the top of the fifth, dropping a two-out double down the right field line to plate Brooke Larsen and Shelby Burdette and balloon Chico State's lead to 9-5.
 
In the top of the seventh inning Cardinali delivered an RBI single to chase home Annie Weiss with a big insurance run. Larsen started the bottom of the seventh in the pitcher's circle for the 'Cats, but after the first two East Bay batters reached, Sam Mulock was summoned from the Chico State bullpen. The lefty plunked the first hitter she faced, but rebounded to strike out Rachel Tadlock and induce back-to-back fielder's choice grounders to short-circuit the Pioneers' late-inning rally and lock down the Wildcats' 10-5 victory.
 
Larsen struck out seven in her six-plus innings of work to earn the win and raise her season record to 18-4.
 
Game two of the doubleheader saw Wildcat history made in the top of the third inning. Following a leadoff double by Lopez, Marsh slashed an opposite field single to left. It was her 222nd career hit, moving Marsh past Alli Cook and at the top of the Chico State career hits leaderboard. Flores then put Chico State into the lead by smacking an opposite field double to right, plating both Lopez and Marsh. Akins promptly chased Flores home with a base hit, staking Naomi Monahan to a 3-0 lead.
 
Monahan was able to pitch out of jams in each of the first three frames, keeping East Bay off the scoreboard. She got into trouble again in the fourth, as the Pioneers loaded the bases with two outs, but Mulock came on in relief to get Courtney Leyba to hit into an inning-ending fielder's choice to get the 'Cats back in the dugout with a three-run lead.
 
East Bay finally broke through with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but was still down 3-1 heading into the seventh. The Wildcats stranded Lopez at third in the top of the frame, and the missed opportunity to add an insurance run would cost them dearly. East Bay roared back to score twice and tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, and had a chance to win in regulation, but Mulock and the 'Cats were able to keep the game tied 3-3 and send the contest into extra innings.
 
Chico State threatened to score in the eighth and ninth innings, but left the potential go-ahead run in scoring position in each frame. The contest was finally decided in the bottom of the 10th—with the bases loaded, the Pioneers' Maddie Ramirez lined a single to center to drive in Emilie Portesi with the game-winner, giving East Bay the 4-3 win and the doubleheader split.   
 
With the 'Cats' regular season now complete, Chico State will now wait until the rest of the conference finishes play next week, as the Wildcats prepare for the CCAA Tournament May 2-5 in Seaside.