SEASIDE—There's a well-worn baseball and softball adage that suggests "pitching and defense wins championships." That may be true, but scoring runs also needs to occur in order to be successful. The Chico State softball team has found runs hard to come by over the last rain-drenched month—after scoring 11 runs in a win over Cal State Dominguez Hills back on March 16, the Wildcats have managed to post just 19 runs in their last 11 games, going 5-6 during that stretch. The lack of run production cost the 'Cats not once, but twice Sunday in their series-ending doubleheader against Cal State Monterey Bay, as the Otters prevailed 3-1 and 6-2 to take three out of four in Seaside.
The doubleheader loss drops Chico State to 23-11 on the season, and into third place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings with a 17-9 conference record. Cal State Monterey Bay improved to 21-17 overall and moved the Otters into a tie for fourth place in the CCAA with a 17-11 conference mark.
The Wildcats' offense produced just nine hits on the day, with four players—Brooke Larsen, Bailey Akins, Wendy Cardinali, and Kristin Worley—collecting two hits apiece.
Larsen was in the pitcher's circle for Chico State in game one of the doubleheader, opposed by Monterey Bay righthander Celeste Villagrana, who shut out the Wildcats in Saturday's doubleheader nightcap. Villagrana continued her mastery over the 'Cats on Sunday, allowing no hits through the first four frames. The Otters jumped on top 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning on a two-out RBI triple by Nikki Jones.
Akins broke up Villagrana's no-hit bid with a leadoff double in the top of the fifth inning, and following a base hit by Cardinali and a Worley sacrifice bunt, the Wildcats had runners at second and third with one out. But the key hit the 'Cats needed to take the lead did not materialize, as Villagrana retired the next two Chico State batters to end the inning and keep Monterey Bay in front.
The Otters didn't miss their scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fifth, plating a pair of runs to go up 3-0. In the top of the sixth, the Wildcats finally broke through—Larsen delivered a one-out single and moved all the way to third on a Monterey Bay error. Reilani Peleti's sacrifice fly to right field chased home Larsen to cut the deficit to two, but it would turn out to be Chico State's last hurrah. The Wildcats went down in order in the top of the seventh inning, giving the Otters the 3-1 victory.
Larsen allowed just two earned runs and struck out six in posting her 15th complete game of the season, but was charged with the loss to slip to 15-3 on the season.
In the nightcap, the 'Cats came out swinging, plating a run in the top of the first inning. Worley led off the game with a double and came home on a single to left by Ari Marsh. The Otters roared back in their half of the frame, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring four times to take a 4-1 lead.
Chico State would not be able to recover, as Monterey Bay extended its advantage with single runs in the second and third innings. Akins launched a two-out solo homer in the top of the seventh inning—her fifth of the year and 21st of her Chico State career, moving her into sole possession of second place on the Wildcats' all-time home run list—but it was far too little and far too late as Monterey Bay cruised to the 6-2 victory, the doubleheader sweep and the series win.
Amanda Flores, the first of three Chico State pitchers used in the contest, took the loss to slip to 1-3 on the season.
The Wildcats return to University Softball Field next weekend for their final regular season home series. The 'Cats will host Stanislaus State in a four-game conference series beginning with a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m., followed by a Saturday twin bill starting at 12 noon.
