AZUSA—There were a lot of positives for Chico State baseball fans to take away from the its season-opening doubleheader at 21^st-ranked Azusa Pacific Friday, but those positives did not translate on the scoreboard as the Wildcats suffered defeats of 5-0 and 2-1.
 
Chico State out-hit the Cougars in each game, and by a combined 13-8. The Wildcats' pitching staff combined for 17 strikeouts over 14 innings of work. Starting pitchers Christian Stiegele and Braeden Gowdy each pitched effectively. And the Chico State defense played a pair of error-free games.
 
But the 'Cats could not overcome their struggles with runners on base. They went 1-for-21 with teammates on, including 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
 
Eddie Zavala's solo blast over the left-field fence gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead in the second inning of the second game but proved to be their only run of the day. Azusa Pacific tied the game in the third and took the lead in the fourth. Chico State, meanwhile, stranded a runner in six of its seven innings.
 
Gowdy (0-1) went four frames, allowing two runs on one hit and three walks while striking out five. Alex Kent and Connor Sealey each provided an inning of scoreless relief.
 
Zavala finished the game with a pair of hits. Jorge Perez, Willie LaJoie, and Aidan Rasmusson also collected hits in the game.
 
Nate Maggi and Tyler Stofiel had two hits apiece in the opener but the Wildcats stranded runners in the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, and ninth.
 
Stiegele (0-1) struck out six in his five innings of work, allowing two runs on three hits and walking one. Chad Burchit provided an impressive inning in relief, striking out two in a perfect eighth.
 
Rasmusson and LaJoie hit safely in both games.
 
The series concludes with a single game Saturday at noon.