Two weeks into the 2020 campaign, the Chico State softball team has accomplished what those in the know were anticipating at the start of the season—the Wildcats can win in a variety of ways. The 'Cats visited both ends of the victory spectrum Saturday against Cal State Monterey Bay, squeaking by the Otters 4-3 in the first game of the doubleheader before dominating the nightcap 9-0 to sweep the twin bill and the four-game series at University Softball Field.
 
Chico State, ranked No. 20 in the nation, raised its record to 9-0 overall with the two Saturday wins. The Wildcats also sit alone atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings with a 4-0 conference mark.
 
The 'Cats' offense was cooking Saturday, racking up 13 runs and 16 hits over the two games. Drew Rodriguez had two hits in each contest and drove in four runs, while Kristin Worley collected three hits on the day. Karter Williams and Reilani Peleti had two hits apiece to provide more than enough offense for pitchers Brooke Larsen and Sam Mulock, who combined to hold Monterey Bay to just three runs and 12 hits in the entire four-game series.
 
Chico State struck quickly in the opening game of Saturday's double dip. With Worley on second base in the bottom of the first inning, she advanced to third when Alani Nguyen reached on an error, then scampered home when the Otters catcher could not hold on to the throw at the plate.
 

Staked to a 1-0 lead, Larsen not only shut out Monterey Bay for five innings, she did not allow a hit. The Wildcats ballooned their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth when Rodriguez doubled home Williams and Virgie Robello, then came around to score on Peleti's RBI single through the left side.
 
Those runs proved to be huge, as the Otter rallied in the top of the sixth. Larsen no only lost her no-hit bid, but surrendered three runs to Monterey Bay and escaped the inning with the lead only because Robello's throw from center field on a two-out single nailed the potential tying run at the plate.
 
Larsen walked a pair of Otters in the top of the seventh inning, prompting head coach Angel Shamblin to go to the bullpen. Mulock entered the pitcher's circle and secured the win by striking out Alyssa Burt to end it, giving the Wildcats the 4-3 victory.
 
Larsen got credit for the win to move to 5-0 on the season, with Mulock picking up her first save.
 
Mulock got the start in game two of the doubleheader and turned in a masterful performance, allowing just two hits and striking out six through five shutout innings. Chico State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Peleti was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing Williams home from third. Later in the frame Worley scored on an Angel Lopez popup.
 
The game officially became a blowout in the bottom of the third inning when the Wildcats sent 12 batters to the plate, scoring seven times. A bases-loaded walk to Lopez plated Worley, then Mulock slashed a base hit up the middle to chase home Peleti and Rodriguez. Williams kept the rally going with a two-run double to drive in Mulock and Jordan DiGiacinto, and Rodriguez capped off the uprising with a single down the left field line to knock in Williams and Robello.
 
Mulock took care of the rest, blanking Monterey Bay in the fourth and fifth innings to put the finishing touches on Chico State's 9-0 victory, completing the doubleheader and series sweep. The win improved Mulock's record to 4-0 on the season and dropped her earned run average to 0.58.
 
Chico State takes next week off before hitting the road to take on the Lumberjacks of Humboldt State in a four-game conference series February 21–22.