The Chico State softball team returned to University Softball Field Friday and treated the home crowd to an extremely memorable day at the yard. Everything clicked for the Wildcats in their series-opening doubleheader against Cal State East Bay, needing just six innings to beat the Pioneers 8-0 in the first game—Brooke Larsen tossing the first no-hitter of her college career—and taking the nightcap 2-0 behind Sam Mulock's two-hit shutout.
There was also a Chico State record that was toppled Friday. Kristin Worley scored three times in the twin bill, giving her 142 as a Wildcat to pass Alli Cook as the program's all-time leading run scorer.
Friday's two victories extend Chico State's latest winning streak to five and moved the No. 5 Wildcats to 14-1 on the season and 9-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State East Bay slipped to 7-14 overall and 5-9 in conference play.
The 'Cats collected 14 hits on the day, with Reilani Peleti racking up four hits and three runs batted in over the two games. Angel Lopez had three hits and three RBI, while Larsen and Sara Mitrano contributed two hits apiece.
In game one of the doubleheader, the Wildcats staked Larsen to an early lead. Drew Rodriguez drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the first inning, advanced to third on a single by Alani Nguyen, and scored when Peleti dumped an opposite-field single into right.
Larsen set down the first nine East Bay hitters she faced before walking Jennifer Palmares to start the fourth inning, but the Pioneers stranded Palmares at third. In the Wildcats' half of the fourth, back-to-back doubles by Mitrano and Lopez bumped Chico State's lead to 2-0.
After Larsen set down the Pioneers in order in the top of the fifth inning, the 'Cats blew the game open in their half of the frame. With two outs and the bases loaded, Larsen shot a single through the left side of the infield to plate Rodriguez from third. Mitrano followed with an RBI single to chase home Nguyen, and Lopez capped off the four-run rally to with a two-run single to left, making the score 6-0.
In the sixth, Larsen surrendered a two-out walk to Palmares but struck out Emilie Portesi to end the inning. The Wildcats finished things off in the bottom of the sixth when Peleti singled home Worley, and fittingly, Larsen shot a single up the middle to drive in Nguyen to end the game and give Chico State the 8-0 win.
Larsen struck out six in notching the no-hit victory and fourth shutout of the season, improving her record to 7-1 on the year. She now ranks 10th on Chico State's career wins list with 27.
The nightcap featured a tight pitching matchup between Mulock and East Bay righthander Anamaria Beard. Chico State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Worley was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on an infield single by Rodriguez. The Wildcat bats went silent over the next four innings, with Beard retiring 10 straight batters at one point.
Mulock, meanwhile, kept the Pioneers off the scoreboard, allowing just a third inning single by Palmares and a base hit by Sarah Fukushima to open the fourth.
The 'Cats delivered a big insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Peleti's single to center plated Worley. That would be more than enough offense for Mulock, who retired East Bay in order in the top of the seventh inning to lock down the Wildcats' 2-0 victory and the doubleheader sweep.
Mulock fanned four on the way to her third shutout of the year, and raised her season record to 7-0. Now with 30 wins as a Wildcat, the lefthander is tied for ninth place on Chico State's career victories list.
Chico State and Cal State East Bay wrap up their four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Fans who can't attend in person can follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
