ARCATA—After racking up 14 hits in the second game of Friday's series-opening doubleheader, the Chico State softball team's bats were blazing again Saturday in Arcata. The Wildcats piled up 26 hits on the afternoon—half of them for extra bases—to sweep a doubleheader from Humboldt State 17-1 and 10-5, and taking three out of four to win the series against the host Lumberjacks at Humboldt State Softball Field in Arcata.
The two Saturday wins moved the No. 5 Wildcats to 12-1 on the season, and improved their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) to a conference-best 7-1. Humboldt State slipped to 4-11 overall and 3-9 in CCAA play.
Several Wildcats put up big offensive numbers Saturday. Amanda Metzger had two home runs and a double among her four hits, driving in six runs over the two games. Drew Rodriguez has three hits and six RBI, with Angel Lopez, Reilani Peleti, and Jordan DiGiacinto adding three hits apiece. Kristin Worley, Karter Williams, Brooke Larsen, and Virgie Robello each had two hits as Chico State outscored Humboldt State in the series 45-12.
In game one of Saturday's double dip, the Wildcats jumped out to a big lead early in the contest. Singles by Larsen, Lopez, and DiGiacinto to start the top of the second inning loaded the bases, and Metzger's base hit down the left field line drove in Larsen to put the 'Cats on the board. Two batters later, Worley drew a bases-loaded walk to cash in Lopez, and Rodriguez capped off the uprising with a three-run double to balloon Chico State's lead to 5-0.
Larsen, who started the game in the pitcher's circle, helped her own cause in a big way in the top of the third. After Rodriguez doubled to lead off the inning, Larsen smashed a no-doubter over the left field fence—her first home run of the season made it a 7-0 contest.
In the fourth, Chico State put up another crooked number, sending 14 batters to the plate and scoring nine times. The first run came via a big fly, as Worley hit the scoreboard with a towering solo homer to left field. Later in the frame, Alani Nguyen scored on a Lumberjacks throwing error, then bases-loaded walks to DiGiacinto, Williams, and Worley pushed home three more runs to make the score 12-0. Rodriguez delivered her second three-run double of the game, and scored on an RBI single by Peleti to extend the 'Cats' advantage to 16-0.
Chico State added one more run in the top of the fifth, as Lopez was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a DiGiacinto double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Williams. After retiring all 12 Humboldt State batters she faced, Larsen was relieved by Courtney Springman in the bottom of the fifth, and though the Lumberjacks were able to avoid the shutout by plating an unearned run, the Wildcats recorded the final out to post the 17-1 victory.
Larsen got credit for the win to improve to 6-1 on the season.
In the nightcap, Chico State drew first blood in the top of the first inning when a bases-loaded walk to DiGiacinto forced Metzger home from third. Humboldt State took advantage of two Sam Mulock walks in its half of the first to score a run and knot up the score 1-1.
The Wildcats jumped right back on top with four runs in the second. Lopez led off the inning with a double and came home on Robello's single to left field. Williams followed with a single, setting the stage for Metzger, who ripped a three-run homer to left to extend the 'Cats' lead to 5-1.
Chico State scored again in the third inning—Mulock led off with a double, advanced to third on a Robello base hit, and came home on a wild pitch. The Lumberjacks pushed a run across in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-2.
The Wildcats took their biggest lead of the game in the top of the seventh inning, with Williams driving in DiGiacinto and Maddy Johnson with a single to right field. Metzger immediately followed with her second homer of the game, pushing the 'Cats' advantage to 10-2.
Humboldt State managed a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh, but Mulock was able to record the final three outs needed to give Chico State the 10-5 victory, the doubleheader sweep, and the series win.
Mulock struck out seven in recording her fourth complete game of the year and improving her season record to 6-0.
Chico State returns home next weekend to take on the Pioneers of Cal State East Bay. The four-game series begins Friday with a 12 noon doubleheader, followed by a Saturday twin bill starting at 11 a.m.
