LA JOLLA—In a season where the Chico State softball team lost eight games due to rain, it seemed strangely fitting that the Wildcats' opening round contest in the NCAA West Sub-Regional was delayed an hour due to wet weather in the San Diego area. It turned out to be well worth the 60-minute wait—the No. 3 seed 'Cats, on the strength of home runs by Bailey Akins and Reilani Peleti, and a two-hit pitching performance by Brooke Larsen, blanked No. 6 Sonoma State 7-0 Thursday at Triton Softball Field in La Jolla.
In the bracket's early game, UC San Diego, the No. 2 seed in the West, edged No. 7 Central Washington 2-1. Chico State will take on the Tritons Friday at 12 noon in the winner's bracket game, with Central Washington and Sonoma State squaring off in the tournament's first elimination game at 2:30 p.m.
Fans can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats and live streaming video, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
Thursday's victory raised Chico State's record to 30-15 on the year. It also marked the seventh time in Angel Shamblin's 10-year Wildcats head coaching career that a Chico State softball team has registered at least 30 wins in a season.
The 'Cats collected seven hits on the day, with Peleti adding a double to her home run. Akins, Larsen, Ari Marsh, Claire Wayne, and Kristin Worley all contributed a hit to the 'Cats' attack.
The Wildcats struck early, and they did it with authority. Peleti drew a two-out walk, and Akins followed with a line drive homer over the left field fence. Akins' sixth big fly of the year—her first since April 7—put Chico State in front 2-0.
The 'Cats added to their advantage in the bottom of the third inning. Marsh doubled home Worley and then came around to score when Larsen rolled a two-out single through the left side of the infield, pushing Chico State's lead to 4-0.
The Wildcats went up 5-0 when Marsh drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fourth, forcing home Shelby Burdette from third.
Chico State officially put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fifth inning, when, with Wayne aboard, Peleti smacked a two-run bomb over the left field fence. Peleti's fourth homer of the season increased the Wildcats' lead to 7-0.
Larsen, meanwhile, was nails in the pitcher's circle, allowing just a third inning double and fourth inning single. The CCAA Most Valuable Pitcher and First Team All-West Region finished with a flourish, retiring 11 of the final 12 Seawolves batters she faced to lock down Chico State's 7-0 victory, recording her seventh shutout of the year and improving her season record to 19-6.
Friday's winner's bracket showdown with UC San Diego marks just the third time the Wildcats and Tritons have met this season. UC San Diego swept a rain-shortened two-game series with two one-run victories March 24 at University Softball Field.
MORE ALL-REGION HONORS FOR THE 'CATS
Prior to the game, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced its 2019 All-Region award winners. Brooke Larsen picked up First Team All-West Region honors, with Kristin Worley and Amanda Flores earning Second Team All-Region honors. Larsen, who received First Team All-West Region accolades Wednesday from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA), is now in the running for All-America honors, which will be announced before the NCAA Championship Finals on May 22.
