TUCSON, Ariz.—Following two wins on Friday's successful first day at the Desert Stinger Tournament, the Chico State softball team added a third straight victory Saturday morning by downing Saint Martin's 4-2. Later in the day, the Wildcats came up on the short end of the final score against MSU Denver, bowing to the Roadrunners 8-3 in action at Lincoln Park in Tucson, Arizona.
Saturday's Desert Stinger split left Chico State with a 7-2 record on the season. The defeat at the hands of MSU Denver is just the second loss for the Wildcats in 17 Desert Stinger Tournament games dating back to 2017.
Chico State collected 16 hits over the two games, and Tayler Berens enjoyed a day at the dish she'll never forget—the Wildcat freshman went a combined 6-for-6 and reached base in all seven of her at-bats. Grave Stover had three hits against Saint Martin's, and Amanda Metzger hit her first two home runs of the season. Nina Revoir also had two hits on the day.
Chico State began Saturday squaring off against Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) member Saint Martin's, and the Wildcats drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning. Revoir led off with a single, and two batters later scored on Stover's double down the left field line. The 'Cats went big fly in the bottom of the third—with Berens aboard, Metzger belted a home run to center field to extend Chico State's lead to 3-0.
The Wildcats added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Stover scored on a two-out double by Berens. Saint Martin's cut the 'Cats' lead in half with two runs in the top of the sixth inning, and made things interesting in the top of the seventh, getting the potential tying runs aboard with just one out. But Chico State starting pitcher Brooke Larsen quelled the rally, inducing a pair of ground ball outs to end the game and secure the Wildcats' 4-2 victory.
For the second straight day, Larsen struck out 14 batters—matching her career high—and notched her fifth complete game of the year. The senior got credit for the win to raise her season record to 4-1.
Against MSU Denver, Chico State got off to a productive start in the top of the first inning. Following a single by Berens, Metzger dialed long distance for the second time on the day with a home run down the left field line. The Wildcats' early lead was short-lived, though, as the Roadrunners tied up the contest with two runs in their half of the first.
MSU Denver took the lead in the bottom of the third inning on a two-out RBI single by Miah Hartvigsen. The 'Cats immediately answered—Rachael Bles delivered a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth to drive in Mari Takeda Bajan to knot up the contest 3-3.
The Roadrunners regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, and though Chico State got the potential tying runs aboard in both the fifth and sixth innings, the Wildcats could not cut into MSU Denver's advantage. In the bottom of the sixth, Katie Maney provided the back-breaking blow, blasting a three-run homer to balloon the Roadrunners' lead to five. The 'Cats were retired without incident in the top of the seventh inning, giving MSU Denver the 8-3 victory.
Katelyn Oldwin started in the pitcher's circle for the 'Cats and was charged with the loss, dropping her record to 2-1 on the season.
Chico State wraps up the Desert Stinger Tournament on Super Bowl Sunday with an 8:30 a.m. Pacific contest against Montana State Billings. Fans can follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video; links can be found at www.chicowildcats.com in the calendar section on the homepage and on the softball schedule page. Live Stats links can also be accessed on the Desert Stinger Tournament page.
