With the graduation of seven key seniors from the 2022 squad, the Chico State softball team will be sporting a decidedly different look when it takes the field this spring. Wildcat fans will get plenty of opportunities to see what promises to be a young and exciting band of players, with 23 home games highlighting the 2023 schedule, officially released Thursday.
Angel Shamblin is back for her 14th year as Wildcats head coach, and brings with her 11 returners from the 2022 team that posted a 37-17 record and reached the NCAA Championship Tournament for the sixth time since 2015.
Chico State opens the 2023 campaign February 3–5 as part of the three-day Concordia Kickoff Classic in Irvine. The Wildcats will play non-conference schools Montana State Billings, Northest Nazarene, Biola, Western Washington, and Colorado Christian.
The 'Cats play their first home games of the season February 10–11, when they host Academy of Art and Stanislaus State at University Softball Field. The California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference schedule then gets underway, with Chico State rounding out the month with four-game home series against Cal State Monterey Bay February 17–18, and Cal Poly Humboldt February 24–25.
March 3–4 the Wildcats travel to Southern California for a four-game set with 2022 CCAA regular season champion Cal State San Marcos, then return home March 17–18 to take on Stanislaus State. Chico State will be in San Bernardino March 24–25 for a four-game showdown with the always tough Coyotes.
The 'Cats take a brief break from CCAA play March 31–April 2 to compete in the Tournament of Champions in Turlock. The following week, April 7–8, Chico State hosts NCAA Championship Tournament finalist Cal State Dominguez Hills. The going doesn't get any easier for the Wildcats, which travels to Rohnert Park April 14–15 for a four game series with CCAA Tournament champion Sonoma State.
Chico State plays it final home series of the regular season April 21–22 when it hosts San Francisco State in a four-game set at University Softball Field. The Wildcats wrap up the regular season April 28–29 in Hayward against Cal State East Bay.
The CCAA Tournament, hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills, is set for May 4–7 in Carson. The conference tournament winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament, which begins May 11–13 with the West Regional. The NCAA Tournament Super Regional is slated for May 18–19, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Tournament finals May 25–30 in Chattanooga, Tennessee for a chance to compete for the D-II national championship.
