TUCSON, Ariz.—Thanks to a sizzling offense that cranked out a combined 29 hits on the day, the Chico State softball team got the Desert Stinger Tournament off to an impressive start Friday, winning a pair of games at Lincoln Park in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats came from behind in the opener to edge Central Washington 6-5 in eight innings, followed by a six inning, 10-0 rout of Regis University (Colo.), raising the 'Cats record to 6-1 on the young season.
Rachael Bles delivered back-to-back three hit performances while driving in three runs Friday. Amanda Metzger and Nina Revoir collected five hits apiece; Reilani Peleti had three hits, while Brooke Larsen and Hailey Seva also enjoyed a multi-hit day.
The Wildcats' first game against Central Washington got off to a very promising start. In the bottom of the first inning, Seva scored from third as she and Bles pulled off a double steal. Chico State extended its lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the second courtesy of an RBI groundout by Seva and a single by Bles that plated Revoir and Sara Mitrano.
Central Washington roared back to tie the score with four runs in the top of the third inning, then took a 5-4 lead in the fifth on a two-out RBI single by Alyssa Benthagen. The 'Cats answered in the bottom of the fifth, knotting up the score when Bles came home on a two-out bases loaded single by Larsen.
The game stayed tied through regulation, so Chico State and Central Washington went into extra innings to determine the winner. Central Washington stranded the potential go-ahead runner at third base in the top of the eighth inning, leaving the door open for the Wildcats to win in walk-off fashion. The 'Cats did just that—with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Tayler Berens delivered a pinch-hit single to drive in Mitrano to give Chico State the 6-5 victory.
Larsen struck out a career-high 14 batters in going the distance in the pitcher's circle for the Wildcats, earning the victory and improving to 3-1 on the year.
Things weren't nearly as nail-biting in Chico State's second game of the day—the Wildcats scored early and often thanks to their relentless offensive attack, and with Katelyn Oldwin keeping the Regis University bats at bay, the 'Cats used a big five-run sixth inning to rout the Rangers.
The Wildcats went out in front in the top of the second inning when Lanie Blomquist's two-out infield single plated Metzger, then in the third Grace Stover led off with a single and came around to score on a double by Bles to extend Chico State's lead to 2-0. Before the inning was over, the 'Cats plated three more runs, all on two-out RBI hits. Metzger singled home Bles, then scored on a base hit by Revoir. Hailey Seva followed with a double to right field, chasing home Revoir to make the score 5-0.
Chico State put the hammer down in the top of the sixth inning. Kyra Gooler got the rally started with an RBI single, then Metzger followed with a base hit to plate Peleti. Seva promptly doubled home Metzger; Revoir crossed the plate on Alani Nguyen's pinch hit sacrifice fly, and Anastacia Alba knocked in Seva with a single. The five-run eruption put the Wildcats firmly in control, and with the help of a bases loaded, game-ending double play, Oldwin shut down Regis in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the finishing touches on Chico State's 10-0 victory.
Oldwin scattered three hits and struck out nine over six shutout innings to get the win and raise her season record to 2-0.
Chico State has two more games on tap Saturday during day two of the Desert Stinger Tournament. The Wildcats will take on Saint Martin's at 8:30 a.m. Pacific time, followed by an 11 a.m. matchup against MSU Denver. Fans can follow the action online with Live Stats, with links to access each game 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 Desert Stinger Tournament page.
