After so much time away, it's easy to see that the members of the Chico State softball team are excited about being back on the field. The Wildcats' exuberance about getting the 2022 season is certainly reflected in their results at the Concordia Kickoff Classic at Great Park in Irvine. After winning their first two games on Friday, the 'Cats came back Saturday and posted two more victories, besting No. 21 Colorado Mesa 2-0 and downing Academy of Art 9-1 in five innings.
The two Saturday wins improved Chico State's season record to 4-0. Over the last two seasons, the Wildcats are now a perfect 9-0 at the Concordia Kickoff Classic.
The 'Cats racked up a combined 14 hits on the day. Grace Stover was 3-for-3 in Chico State's win over Academy of Art, with Alani Nguyen, Kyra Gooler, and Grace Gallagher each collecting a pair of hits.
Saturday's first game featured a big-time pitcher's duel between the 'Cats' Brooke Larsen and Colorado Mesa's Paige Adair. The Wildcats went hitless through the first five frames, while Larsen successfully wiggled out of a pair of potential run-scoring jams. In the bottom of the second, Larsen worked around two singles and a walk to escape the inning unscathed; then in the bottom of the fifth, with a Colorado Mesa runner at third and one out, the Wildcats' ace induced a pop-up and a fly out to keep the game scoreless.
The 'Cats had a chance to score in the top of the sixth inning, but stranded runners at second and third. In the seventh, though, Chico State was not to be denied—Reilani Peleti led off with a double, and a sacrifice bunt by Nina Revoir moved pinch runner Blaire Willson to third. Willson would come home on a single by Nguyen, and Drew Rodriguez followed with a double to plate pinch runner Alexandria Allen with an all-important insurance run.
Now with a lead, Larsen doused any chance of a Colorado Mesa comeback by retiring the Mavericks in order in the bottom of the seventh inning to lock down the Wildcats' 2-0 victory.
The 'Cats piled up nine hits and took advantage of some costly Academy of Art miscues in Saturday's second game. A bases loaded error by the Urban Knights led directly to three unearned Wildcat runs in the top of the first inning, and in the second Amanda Metzger walked, stole second, and came around to score courtesy of two wild pitches to give Chico State an early 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Stover tripled home Nguyen, and then scored when Gooler singled up the middle to extend the 'Cats advantage to 6-0. Academy of Art got on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the fourth inning, but in the bottom of the fifth Chico State put the game to bed when Stover's second three-bagger of the contest knocked in Gallagher and Allen, then Gooler ended it with an RBI single, giving the Wildcats the 9-1 victory.
Katelyn Oldwin went the distance in the pitcher's circle for the 'Cats, scattering just three hits and striking out eight in earning the first win of her Chico State career.
Chico State wraps up the Concordia Kickoff Class Sunday, facing another nationally-ranked team. The Wildcats will take on tournament host Concordia (No. 10 in the NFCA preseason coaches poll) at 9 a.m. Fans can follow the action online with live streaming video and Live Stats, with links available on the Wildcat Athletics webpage.
