It's been nearly two years since the Chico State softball team last took the field, but for Wildcat fans, it's seemed like an eternity. The long wait is about to come to an end, however, as the 'Cats officially lift the lid on the 2022 season this Friday through Sunday at the Concordia Kickoff Classic in Irvine. Chico State isn't just easing back into action, either—all five of the Wildcats' opponents during the three-day tournament played (and had winning records) in 2021, with three boasting 2022 preseason national rankings.
 
The Wildcats' first Kickoff Classic contest is Friday at 1:15 p.m. against Biola, followed by a 5:30 p.m. game versus Northwest Nazarene. Saturday at 11:45 a.m., the 'Cats face off against Colorado Mesa, with a tilt against Academy of Art slated for 4:30 p.m.
 
The Wildcats conclude the 21-team Kickoff Classic Sunday at 9 a.m. against tournament host Concordia. All tournament games will be played at Great Park in Irvine.
 
Complete game times and field locations are available on the Concordia Kickoff Classic Tournament Central page.
 
CONCORDIA KICKOFF CLASSIC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL PAGE
 
Fans planning to attend in person can buy their tickets online using the link below, and are encouraged to purchase them ahead of time via credit card. Tournament officials will not be accepting cash at the gate for tickets.
 
Day passes or entire Tournament passes are available, and there is a discount for seniors (65+) and youth (ages 5-10). Children under five will be admitted free.
 
PURCHASE CONCORDIA KICKOFF CLASSIC TICKETS ONLINE  
 
Tickets can also be purchased at the gate (with a credit card) through the same link, either on your cell phone or through one of the tournament iPads located at the gate.

Fans unable to attend can still follow the action online with Live Stats. Links for each game are available at www.chicowildcats.com in the calendar section on the homepage and on the softball schedule page. Live Stats links can also be found on the Concordia Kickoff Classic Tournament Central page.
 
Live streaming video will only be available for Sunday morning's Chico State-Concordia game. The live stream link can be found on the Wildcat Athletics homepage, the softball schedule page, and the Concordia Kickoff Classic Tournament Central page.
 
Chico State enters the brand-new season with nine returners—and seven starters—from the 2020 team that boasted a 19-2 record and the No. 2 national ranking before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly shut down play for the remainder of the spring. The last time the Wildcats faced a regular season opponent was March 8, 2020 against San Francisco State.
 
Even with a healthy number of returning players, Head Coach Angel Shamblin's Wildcats is a relatively young team heading into 2022. The 'Cats feature no less than 13 freshmen on their roster, including eight true freshmen.
 
Despite the long stretch of inactivity, the 'Cats are still expected to be one of the elite teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Chico State was a near-unanimous selection to win the 2022 CCAA softball championship, garnering nine of 10 first-place votes in the conference's preseason coaches' poll.
 
Here are thumbnail overviews of the Wildcats' Concordia Kickoff Classic opponents:
 
BIOLA (Friday, 1:15 p.m.)
While Chico State will play its first game of 2022 against Biola, the Wildcats will actually be the Eagles' second opponent of the season (Biola takes on Northwest Nazarene Thursday in La Mirada). The Eagles were 26-16 (14-10, second place in the Pacific West Conference's Southern California Pod) in 2021, but once they reached the postseason, Biola got hot, winning the NCAA West Region crown and reaching the Division II Championship Finals, losing a best-of-three set against West Texas A&M for the national championship. They finished 2021 ranked No. 2 in the country. The Eagles begin the 2022 campaign atop the PacWest preseason coaches' poll, and ranked No. 3 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 preseason coaches' poll.
 
All-time vs. Chico State: The Wildcats and Biola have met just once on the softball diamond, with Chico State winning 2-1 at the 2020 Concordia Kickoff Classic.
 
NORTHWEST NAZARENE (Friday, 5:30 p.m.)
The Nighthawks posted a 31-14 record in 2021, captured the Great Northwest Athletic Association (GNAC) regular season title, and reached the NCAA West Regional. Northwest Nazarene has been picked to finish second in the 2022 GNAC preseason coaches' poll.
 
All-time vs. Chico State: The Wildcats are 2-0 against the Nighthawks. In their last meeting, Chico State topped Northwest Nazarene in May, 2018 at the NCAA West Sub-Regional.
 
COLORADO MESA (Saturday, 11:45 a.m.)
The Mavericks were 39-5 in 2021 (its .866 winning percentage the best in all of Division II) and ran away with the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) crown, easily qualifying for the NCAA Championship Tournament and finishing the season ranked No. 23 in the nation. This year, Colorado Mesa is No. 21 in the NFCA Top 25 preseason coaches' poll, and picked by conference coaches to win the RMAC regular season title.
 
All-time vs. Chico State: This will be the first time the two schools have gone head-to-head in softball.
 
ACADEMY OF ART (Saturday, 4:30 p.m.)
The Urban Knights posted an overall record of 15-13 in 2021 and finished second in the PacWest's Northern California Pod. Academy of Art is picked to finish sixth in the PacWest preseason coaches' poll.
 
All-time vs. Chico State: The Wildcats hold a 7-2 advantage over the Urban Knights. Chico State has won the last three meetings; the last time Academy of Art beat the 'Cats was in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader in February of 2016.
 
CONCORDIA (Sunday, 9 a.m.)
The Eagles finished the 2021 season ranked No. 12 in the nation on the strength of a 34-13 record. Concordia took top honors in the PacWest's Southern California Pod and reached the NCAA Championship Tournament, where the Eagles fell to Biola in the West Region finals. Concordia opens the 2022 campaign with the NFCA's No. 10 national ranking, and is picked to finish second in the PacWest preseason coaches' poll.
 
All-time vs. Chico State: The Wildcats have won both matchups with Concordia, the first coming in 1996 and the most recent in February, 2020 at the Concordia Kickoff Classic.