The Chico State baseball team's domination in the friendly confines of Nettleton Stadium nearly netted the Wildcats another doubleheader and series sweep Sunday. The 'Cats edged San Francisco State 4-2 in the first game of the series-concluding doubleheader, but Chico State's streak of 13 consecutive home wins was halted in the nightcap as the Gators prevailed 8-4. Despite the loss, the twin bill split was enough for the Wildcats to win the four-game set.
 
Chico State finished the weekend 15-5 record on the season while boasting an 8-3 record in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Sunday's doubleheader split left San Francisco State with an overall record of 8-12 and a 3-9 mark in CCAA play.
 
After scoring a pair of lopsided wins to open the series Saturday, the Wildcats leaned heavily on their pitching Sunday—especially in the first game of the twin bill. Starter Cody Gentry allowed just one earned run in six innings of work, with Gavin Kinney tossing three shutout innings of relief. The two 'Cats' hurlers held the Gators to just five hits in the contest.
 
Chico State was able to generate just enough offense to scratch out the win. The Wildcats took a 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Jack Murphy scored from third on a Grady Morgan fielder's choice grounder. After San Francisco State tied things up with an unearned run in the top of the second, the 'Cats jumped back in front on the strength of a two-out RBI single by Andrew Crane that plated Zach Morris and Jacob Jablonski.
 
The Gators made it a 3-2 game with a run in the top of the fifth, but Chico State answered with a run in its half of the inning, as Jeffrey Ray reached on an error and scored on a booming double to right field by Willie Lajoie. After tossing a scoreless sixth frame, Gentry handed the ball to Kinney, who set down San Francisco State without incident the rest of the way, giving the Wildcats the 4-2 victory.
 
Gentry got credit for the win to improve to 4-1 on the year, while Kinney notched his third save of the season.
 
A seven-inning affair, game two saw the Gators jump out to an early lead, taking advantage of a Chico State error to plate an unearned run in the top of the third. San Francisco State extended its advantage with three runs in the fifth, but in the bottom of the sixth Lajoie cut the Gators' lead in half with his fourth home run of the year, making it a 4-2 contest.
 
The Gators responded by scoring four times in the top of the seventh, leaving the Wildcats looking at a six-run deficit as they took their final turn at bat. Chico State did not go quietly, as Jordan Mello and Ernie Arambula delivered pinch hit singles in the inning and Gabe Arellano knocked them both in with a two-out, pinch hit triple. San Francisco State was able to finally get that elusive final squeeze to hold on to the 8-4 win, avoiding a series sweep and handing the Wildcats their first loss at "The Nett" this season.    
 
The Wildcats travel to Turlock next weekend for a four-game set against CCAA rival Stanislaus State. The series gets underway Friday with a single game scheduled for 5 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., and a Sunday single game at 12 noon.