LA JOLLA—There are several types of hitters in softball. Some are patient, working the pitcher for just the right offering. Others are "bad ball" hitters, who find a way to get on base with anything thrown in their general area code. Still others are "grip and rip" hitters, who step up to the plate and waste absolutely no time putting the ball in play. Chico State's Angel Lopez definitely falls into the latter category, and her "swing now, ask questions later" approach paid off big time for the Wildcats Friday in the NCAA West Sub-Regional. Her pinch-hit, three-run home run turned a one-run deficit into a two-run lead, and the 'Cats went on to down UC San Diego 6-4 in the second round winner's bracket game at Triton Softball Field in La Jolla.
With their back-to-back tournament wins, Chico State has earned two chances to win one more game Saturday to keep its season alive and advance to next week's West Super Regional. The Wildcats' will once again face UC San Diego (who avoided elimination late Friday with a 5-2 win over Sonoma State), and will have to beat the 'Cats twice Saturday to end Chico State's 2019 campaign.
Fans can follow all of Saturday's action online with Live Stats and live streaming video, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
The Wildcats pounded out 10 hits Friday against the Tritons, with Kristin Worley going 3-for-4. Ari Marsh added two hits and two runs batted in as Chico State ran its season record to 31-15. UC San Diego dropped to 32-15 overall.
UC San Diego took advantage of a Chico State error to open the scoring in the top of the first inning, as Maddy Lewis beat the throw home on a squeeze bunt by Keila Bosinger to put the Tritons in front 1-0. The Wildcats got the run back in the bottom of the frame when Worley legged out an infield single, stole second, and scored on a two-out single by Amanda Flores.
UC San Diego answered immediately. Mikaila Reyes led off the top of the second with a solo homer to left field, then later in the inning the Tritons scored on an RBI groundout to go back in front 3-1.
The Wildcats crept to within a run in the bottom of the third. Worley led off the inning with a double to left field and scored when Marsh sent a seeing-eye single through the right side of the infield, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Chico State turned to its diminutive dynamo to roar into the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Reilani Peleti and Bailey Akins led off the inning with singles, setting the stage for Lopez, who crushed a three-run bomb to straightaway center. Her third home run of the year put the 'Cats on top 5-3.
UC San Diego used two singles, a stolen base and a wild pitch in the top of the sixth inning to pull to within 5-4. But the Wildcats responded with a huge insurance run in the bottom of the frame when Marsh delivered a two-out single to plate Amanda Metzger.
There was a bit of drama in the top of the seventh, as the Tritons got the potential tying run to the plate with one out. Brooke Larsen, however, shut down any hopes of a UC San Diego rally by getting Sherriah Harrington to ground into a force play and Clarissa Reynoso to foul out to Marsh down the right field line, cementing the Wildcats'exciting 6-4 victory.
Larsen struck out five in going the distance for the 20th time this year, while raising her season record to 20-6.
