TURLOCK—The length of the Chico State's Friday night baseball game at Stanislaus State afforded plenty of time for research. The Wildcats' offense provided plenty to consider, pounding out 20 runs in a runaway win. In doing so, they reached double digits in runs for the 11^th time in 21 games and the 20-run mark for the second time this season.
 
By the time the Wildcats' 20-6 win to open a four-game set at Stanislaus State was over, this researcher was reeling a bit. Sure, Chico State is only one-third of the way through the regular season. But the Wildcats are producing out some historic run totals.
 
Even before Friday night's outburst, the Wildcats were scoring 9.15 runs per game and 10.49 runs per nine innings. Add Friday's totals to the list and those numbers jump to 9.67 per game and 11.00 runs per nine innings. The program record is for runs per game is 9.11, set in 1997. 
 
In the 10 seasons since the BBCOR bat performance standard was instituted by the NCAA in 2011, only three Chico State teams have scored 10 or more runs at least 11 times in a season. The 2013 team scored 10+ runs 11 times in 55 games; the 2016 teams scored 10+ runs 13 times in 57 games; and the 2017 team scored 10+ runs 11 times in 56 games. The 2016 team scored in double figures 23 percent of the time. This team has done it 52 percent of the time.
 
Over the course of the entire 10 seasons before this one, the Wildcats had scored 20 or more runs just five times, never more than twice in a season, and only once since the start of 2014. This year's team has done it twice. 
 
The Wildcats batted around in each of the first two innings Friday and scored at least one run in each of their first eight innings. They led 9-0, and when Stanislaus State scored three in the sixth to cut the lead to 14-6, Chico State answered with four in the seventh and three more in the eighth.
 
Chico State leadoff hitter Jeffrey Ray had perhaps the most interesting line of the night. He doubled, walked four times, and hit two sacrifice flies, finishing 1-for-1 with five runs scored and four RBI. Jack Murphy led the team with three hits. Ray and Willie Lajoie led the way with four RBI. Lajoie went 2-for-3 and walked three times. Elijah Jackson was twice hit by pitches and also banged out two hits, finishing with two runs scored and three RBI. Jacob Jablonski and Grady Morgan also had two hits apiece. 
 
Wildcats start Rylan Tinsley—who began his collegiate career at Stanislaus State—earned the victory in his return. Tinsley allowed three runs on six hits in five innings, while striking out four, to improve to 4-0 on the season. Gerritt Erickson closed the game with two scoreless frames.
 
Chico State, ranked No. 26 in the nation, improved to 16-5 overall and 9-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with Friday's win. The Wildcats moved into second place in the CCAA standings and trail conference leader Cal State Monterey Bay by a half game.  
 
The series continues Saturday with a doubleheader that is now scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. due to possible rain in the forecast. It was originally scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Sunday's series finale is scheduled to begin at noon.