The Chico State softball team, occupying the home dugout Friday for the first time in nearly two years, certainly made its first games of the 2022 season at University Softball Field memorable ones. Wildcat pitchers combined to strike out 23 Cal State San Bernardino batters, and a number of clutch hits provided just enough offense as the No. 21 'Cats took both ends of a doubleheader from the visiting Coyotes, winning the opener 4-1 and the nightcap 3-1.
With the two wins, Chico State moved to 12-4 on the season and 4-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State San Bernardino slipped to 6-7 overall and 2-4 in CCAA play.
The Wildcats racked up 14 hits Friday, with Grace Stover and Hailey Seva each collecting three safeties on the day. Nina Revoir also enjoyed a productive afternoon, notching a hit in both games of the twin bill.
With Brooke Larsen in the pitcher's circle, the 'Cats wasted little time in staking their ace righthander to a lead in the opener of the double dip. With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning, Stover delivered a clutch single to center to plate Larsen and Amanda Metzger. In the third, Revoir's RBI single chased home Seva, giving Chico State a 3-0 lead.
Larsen, meanwhile, was nearly unhittable early on, striking out eight of the first nine San Bernardino batters she faced, and didn't surrender a hit until the fifth inning. In the bottom of the fifth, the Wildcats went up 4-0 when Seva singled and came home on Alani Nguyen's ringing double to right field.
The Coyotes threatened in the top of the seventh, scoring a run and getting the potential tying run to the plate with just one out. But with runners at second and third, Larsen finished the game exactly the way she started it, striking out pinch hitters Alyssa Rodriguez and Kyla Lowman to end it, securing Chico State's 4-1 victory.
Larsen struck out a dozen in notching her eighth win and ninth complete game of the year.
Game two featured another well-pitched game, this time by Wildcats' righthander Katelyn Oldwin. She also had the Coyotes swinging and missing, fanning seven hitters over the first three frames. Chico State broke through with a pair in the bottom of the fourth—Tayler Berens delivered a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to score Alexandria Allen, and later in the inning Revoir came home from third on a wild pitch to put the Wildcats in front 2-0.
The 'Cats added a huge insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Rachael Atkins roped a one-out triple down the right field line and scored on a sac fly by pinch hitter Jade Henry. Like it did in the first game, San Bernardino made some noise in the top of the seventh, quickly loading the bases with only one out. Mari Takeda Bajan was summoned from the Chico State bullpen, and though the Coyotes scored on a fielder's choice grounder, Takeda Bajan got Kaylee Williamson to chop a grounder to Reilani Peleti at first for the final out, giving the Wildcats the 3-1 win and the doubleheader sweep.
Oldwin struck out a season-high 11 batters to earn the win and improve to 3-2 on the year. Takeda Bajan picked up the first save of her Chico State career.
The Wildcats and Coyotes wrap up their four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Fans that can't be at the games in person can follow the action online with Live Stats. Live streaming video for the first game only will be broadcast on the CCAA Network. Links can be found at
www.chicowildcats.com in the calendar section of the website's homepage, and on the Chico State softball schedule page.
Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry Week
It's Chico State Athletics Pack The Pantry Week and we have set a big goal—10,000 items—which would break the record we set last year. We need your help to reach it. You can donate monetarily
HERE and every dollar will count for two items.
You can also drop off a donation at any of Chico State Athletics' 12 basketball, softball, and baseball games this weekend or at the Pantry itself Monday through Friday until 3 p.m., or by calling 530-898-4098 to make arrangements. Thank you for your support of Chico State's students, including student-athletes!
