Following the successful opening of the 2022 season, the Chico State softball team is ready to hit the road once again, as the Wildcats head to The Grand Canyon State this weekend to compete in the 14-team Desert Stinger Tournament. The 'Cats will face five opponents at Lincoln Park in Tucson, Arizona Friday through Sunday in the team's final tune-up before the start of California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play.

Friday at 8:30 a.m. Pacific time, Chico State squares off against Central Washington, followed by an 11 a.m. matchup versus Regis (Colo.). The Wildcats play two more games on Saturday, taking on Saint Martin's at 8:30 a.m. and MSU Denver at 11 a.m. Sunday, the 'Cats wrap up the Desert Stinger Tournament with a single game against Montana State Billings at 8:30 a.m.
 
Complete game times and field locations are available on the Desert Stinger Tournament page.
 
DESERT STINGER TOURNAMENT PAGE
 
Advance tickets are available online for fans planning to attend the Desert Stinger in person. Single day passes or entire Tournament passes are available, and there is a discount for seniors (65+) and youth (ages 11-17). 
 
DESERT STINGER ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
 
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 Desert Stinger Tournament page.
 
Live streaming video will only be available for Sunday morning's Chico State-Montana State Billings game. The live stream link can be found on the Wildcat Athletics homepage, the softball schedule page, and the Desert Stinger Tournament page. 
 
Chico State lifted the lid on the 2022 campaign by winning four of its five games at last weekend's Concordia Kickoff Classic. The Wildcats triumphed in each of their first four contests (beating nationally-ranked Biola and Colorado Mesa along the way), before falling 3-1 on the tournament's final day to No. 10 Concordia.
 
The 'Cats are making their fourth trip to the Desert Stinger, and to say Chico State has seen plenty of success at the tournament is putting it mildly. The Wildcats are a combined 12-1 since joining the tourney field in 2017, and were named 2018 tournament champions after winning five straight games that year by a combined score of 40-4.
 
While Chico State got the expected production out of veteran players like Brooke Larsen, Reilani Peleti, Alani Nguyen, and Grace Gallagher at last weekend's Concordia Kickoff Classic, several Wildcat newcomers—including Rachael Bles, Hailey Seva, Grace Stover, and Kyra Gooler—made big contributions to the 'Cats' successful season start.
 
Here are thumbnail overviews of Chico State's Desert Stinger opponents:
 
CENTRAL WASHINGTON (Friday, 8:30 a.m. Pacific time)
The team that shares Chico State's school nickname plays its season opener against head coach Angel Shamblin's squad. Central Washington finished the 2021 season with an 18-16 record, good for second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) and a spot in the NCAA West Regional. Central Washington has been picked to finish seventh in the GNAC preseason softball coaches' poll.
 
All-time vs. Chico State: Chico State has won 17 of the 28 meetings with Central Washington dating back to 1996. Chico State has won the last two match-ups; the last time Central Washington prevailed was at the 2014 Tournament of Champions in Turlock.
 
REGIS (Colo.) (Friday, 11 a.m. Pacific)
The Rangers, a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), opened the 2022 campaign last weekend in Denver splitting a doubleheader against Cal Poly Humboldt, then taking one of two versus Fort Hays State. Regis posted a 21-17 record in 2021 and finished in fifth place in the RMAC, earning a conference tournament berth. The Rangers were tied for fourth place in the RMAC 2022 preseason coaches' poll.
 
All-time vs. Chico State: This will be the first time the two schools have gone head-to-head in softball.
 
SAINT MARTIN'S (Saturday, 8:30 a.m. Pacific)
The Saints are playing their first games of the 2022 season at the Desert Stinger Tournament; prior to facing Chico State Saturday, Saint Martin's will take on 1-3 Washburn University (Topeka, Kansas) and 5-0 Concordia on Friday. Saint Martin's was 19-18 during the 2021 season and finished fourth in the GNAC. The conference's preseason coaches' poll has the Saints selected to once again finish in fourth place in 2022.
 
All-time vs. Chico State: The Wildcats are 6-1 against the Saints in their seven prior meetings. Chico State has won the last two games, with Saint Martin's lone victory over the 'Cats coming in the 2013 Tournament of Champions.
 
MSU DENVER (Saturday, 11 a.m. Pacific)
The Roadrunners from Metropolitan State University are off to a 3-1 start to the 2022 season, sweeping a doubleheader with Fort Hays State and splitting a twin bill against Cal Poly Humboldt in Denver. MSU Denver finished 29-11 and in second place in the RMAC in 2021, reaching the conference tournament. The RMAC coaches' poll has the Roadrunners expected to finish third in the race for the conference crown.
 
All-time vs. Chico State: The Wildcats hold a 2-0 advantage over the Roadrunners, but the two schools have not met on the softball field in 10 years. Chico State took the last head-to-head battle with MSU Denver by score of 14-2 February 5, 2012 at the Best of the West Tournament in Turlock.
 
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS (Sunday, 8:30 a.m. Pacific)
The host school of the Desert Stinger Tournament opened the 2022 season competing at the Concordia Kickoff Classic, coming away with a 2-3 record. The Yellowjackets hope to improve on a 2021 season that ended with a 10-26 record and a sixth place finish in the GNAC. Montana State Billings has been picked to finish sixth in the conference in the GNAC 2022 preseason coaches' poll.
 
All-time vs. Chico State: The Wildcats have won six of the 10 matchups with the 'Jackets dating back to 2004. Montana State Billings was victorious in the last meeting between the two teams, beating Chico State 2-0 at the 2019 Tournament of Champions.