Pitching continued to dominate the series as the Chico State baseball team defeated Cal State San Bernardino 3-0 Saturday night at Nettleton Stadium. And defense. Don't forget the Wildcats' defense.
Braeden Gowdy, Connor Sealy, Alex Kent, and Kristian Scott combined on a three-hitter for the 27
th-ranked Wildcats, and also benefitted from another beautiful display of defense. Andrew Renteria made a run-saving snare of a line drive and Jorge Perez snared a different liner and caught a baserunner leaking off second for an inning ending double play.
Those were just two of the plays the defense made behind the pitching staff
Gowdy helped out as well, throwing out one runner at third on a sacrifice bunt attempt and another at home when he pounced on a pitch that bounced down the first-base line after it was blocked by Tyler Stofiel.
The junior transfer collected his first victory as a Wildcat on the heels of five shutout innings. He allowed three hits, hit two batters, and walked another.
Sealey needed just seven pitches in the sixth, getting two quick groundouts and a strikeout. Kent followed with two hitless frames, working around a leadoff error in the seventh and a two-out walk in the eighth. And Scott collected his fifth save in as many chances with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Making his second straight start at second base, Renteria impressed with his bat as well as his glove, scalding a shot off the first-baseman's glove on a backhand attempt to open the Wildcats' two-run third. JT Navarro followed with a bloop double down the right field line.
Aidan Rasmusson drove in the first run of the game with a grounder to first and Willie Lajoie's ground out down the third base line brought Navarro in to make it 2-0.
Chico State added an insurance run in the eighth. Lajoie drew a two-out walk and Zavala was hit by a pitch ahead of Grady Morgan's hard grounder to second that was played into a run-scoring error.
Lajoie and Skylar Limonchi each had a hit and reached base twice. Limonchi and Morgan also stole a base.
The series concludes Sunday with a single game at 11 a.m. at Nettleton Stadium. The Wildcats will be attempting to win their fourth straight home series to start the season. They are 11-3 at home, 14-7 overall, and 10-5 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action. Cal State San Bernardino slipped to 7-14 overall and 3-11 in the CCAA.
Chico State baseball second baseman Andrew Renteria dives to snag a line drive, saving a run in the process, during the Wildcats' 3-0 win against Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday, March 7.
(Photo by Ryan McCasland)
Chico State pitcher Braeden Gowdy snares a comebacker during the Wildcats' 3-0 win against Cal State San Bernardino in Saturday, March 7.
(Photo by Ryan McCasland)
