The day started beautifully for the Chico State baseball team. The 1999 National Championship team was honored prior to the game with a touching tribute, and the Wildcats jumped out to an early lead over visiting Cal State San Marcos, banging out four hits and scoring twice in the first inning.
It was all Cal State San Marcos after that. The Coyotes scored twice in the fifth to take the lead and added two insurance runs in the seventh on the way to a 5-2 victory and four-game series split.
The Wildcats, who fell to 17-13 overall and 13-12 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), managed just one hit after the second inning. Cal State San Marcos moved to 16-22 overall and 12-20 in the CCAA.
Members of the 2019 came from throughout the state and as far away as Hawaii to spend the weekend in Chico on the 20
th anniversary of their spectacular season. With the 2019 Wildcats lineup up to form a walkway toward home plate, the alumni listed as the scores of their seven NCAA Tournament wins were read aloud and the final out, called by Mike Baca of AM-1290 KPAY—who remains the voice of the Wildcats—was played over the public address system.
Then, one by one, they walked to the space behind home plate as their names and accomplishments were read.
Brian Grover, who penned
a must-read letter about his experience in the team's last home game of that season, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Cody Wissler led the Wildcats with a pair of hits Sunday, a double and
a single.
Photos were taken, interviews given, and hugs shared. Then it was time for some baseball.
Three straight one-out singles in the bottom of the first got the Wildcats on the board. Cody Wissler lined a single off the glove of the Cougars' third baseman with one out. Dustin Miller singled to center field. And then Alex DeVito singled up the middle to drive in the game's first run. The Wildcats made it 2-0 on Kyle Pineda's infield single.
Cal State San Marcos cut the lead in half in the third, but it could have been much worse. The Cougars had a run in and the bases loaded with only one out, but Wildcats' starter William Curless struck out two in a row to get out of the jam.
A one-out walk in the fifth preceded Grant Buck's two-run homer that hit the top of the wall in right center before bounding up and over it, giving Cal State San Marcos a 3-2 lead.
Wissler's two-out double in the fifth was the Wildcats' lone hit over the final seven innings.
The Wildcats will be back in action next weekend when the travel to Carson for a four-game series at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
