After a road trip that resulted in three more wins, several improved batting averages, and a firm hold on first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), the Chico State softball team—ranked No. 5 in the country—returns home to University Softball Field this weekend to take on conference foe Cal State East Bay. The Wildcats and Pioneers square off for doubleheader action Friday beginning at 12 noon, followed by a Saturday twin bill slated to get underway at 11 a.m.
Fans can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats, accessible through the Wildcat Athletics website. Live streaming video will also be available online.
Thanks to last weekend's series win over Humboldt State, Chico State enters the four-game set with East Bay with a 12-1 season record. The Wildcats are also sit atop the CCAA standings with a 7-1 conference record.
The Wildcat bats were sizzling in the Humboldt State series, as Chico State racked up 45 runs and 47 hits—21 of them extra-base knocks. The 'Cats batted a blistering .402 over the four games, raising the team's season batting average to .323—second highest in the CCAA. Chico State leads the conference in slugging percentage (.499) and on-base percentage (.431).
Wildcat pitching is also tops in the CCAA, with a team earned run average of 0.90 while holding opposing teams to a conference-low .159. Chico State ranks second in the CCAA in shutouts (5) and strikeouts (83).
Individually, Alani Nguyen and Drew Rodriguez are tied for fourth in the CCAA in batting (.444) and are ranked in the top seven in RBI (Rodriguez has 15, followed by Nguyen with 14). Nguyen—the reigning CCAA Player of the Week—leads the conference in slugging percentage (.889), and is second in walks (15) and on-base percentage (.628).
Kristin Worley ranks ninth in the CCAA in batting (.412), is tied for fourth in runs scored (15), and is fifth in both slugging percentage (.676) and on-base percentage (.563). Worley, who became Chico State's all-time stolen base leader earlier in the year, has 139 career runs scored, and needs to cross the plate just three more times to pass Alli Cook as the top run scorer in program history.
In the pitcher's circle, Sam Mulock leads the CCAA in earned run average (0.77) and opponent batting average (.145), and is tied for fifth place in the conference with teammate Brooke Larsen with six wins on the season. Larsen is tied for the CCAA lead in shutouts (3), is second in opponent batting average (.164), third in ERA (1.05), and tied for sixth in strikeouts (46) and complete games (5).
Cal State East Bay comes to Chico sporting an overall record of 7-12, and is in a three-way tie for eighth place in the CCAA with a 5-7 conference record. After dropping their first five games of the season, the Pioneers have righted the ship and enter the series with the Wildcats having won four of their last six contests. Last weekend East Bay split a four-game home series with Cal State Monterey Bay.
The Pioneers are batting .257 as a team, while the East Bay pitching staff ranks fifth in the CCAA with a 3.76 ERA.
The Pioneers are led by senior infielder Sarah Fukushima. A First Team All-CCAA selection a year ago, Fukushima is batting .404—10th best in the conference—with eight extra-base hits and seven RBI. Junior utility player Maddie Ramirez is batting .333 with a team-high nine RBI.
East Bay's pitching staff is headed up by senior righthander Abby Greer, who enters this weekend's series with a 5-4 record and 3.13 ERA.
The Wildcats took three out of four last season against Cal State East Bay, and have won 10 of the last 12 contests with the Pioneers. Since 1983, Chico State holds a 70-39 lead in the all-time series between the two teams.
