The Chico State softball team is not used to losing series, let alone being the victim of a sweep. But you can bet that the Wildcats, who fell in four straight games last weekend against Cal State San Marcos, will use last week's experience to grow as a unit and refocus on playing at their usually high level. The 'Cats travel to Southern California this weekend to take on California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) rival Cal State Dominguez Hills, with doubleheaders set for 1 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Fans unable to attend in person can follow the action online with live streaming video via the CCAA Network. For $9.95 per month, fans can access every Chico State game—home and away—along with all live and archived CCAA matchups. Live Stats will also be available, with links found at
www.chicowildcats.com in the calendar section of the website's homepage, and on the Chico State softball schedule page.
The Wildcats enter the series 22-8 on the season and in second place in the CCAA with a 14-6 conference record. Despite the four losses to Cal State San Marcos last weekend, the 'Cats are still nationally ranked, occupying the No. 22 slot in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Cal State Dominguez Hills, 21-10 overall, is right behind Chico State in third place in the CCAA with a 12-8 conference mark. The Toros, winners of seven of their last 10 contests, split a four-game set last weekend against Cal State East Bay.
The series is sure to be a competitive one, as at least statistically, Chico State and Cal State Dominguez Hills match up very evenly. The Toros are batting a collective .308 on the year (third among the 10 CCAA teams), have piled up 68 extra-base hits (including 17 home runs), and are second in the conference with 54 stolen bases. The Wildcats own a .299 team batting average and has 16 homers among their 67 extra-base hits. Both teams are averaging over five runs and eight hits a game.
In the pitcher's circle, the 'Cats have the slight edge. Chico State ranks third in the CCAA with a 2.23 team earned run average, and leads all conference staffs with nine shutouts and 230 strikeouts. Dominguez Hills is fifth in the CCAA with a 2.70 team ERA and is second in strikeouts (180), while tossing five shutouts on the season.
The series will also feature three of the CCAA's top seven hitters. Wildcat Nina Revoir ranks sixth in the conference with a .404 batting average, and is among the CCAA leaders with 23 runs batted in. Cal State Dominguez Hills features the conference's No. 5 hitter, Raquel Jaime (.414 batting average), and No. 7 Claudia Valencia (.402 BA, 3 HR, 23 RBI).
In the pitcher's circle, Chico State's Brooke Larsen and righthander Ashley Wies of Dominguez Hills are tied for the CCAA lead with 13 wins apiece. Larsen continues to lead all conference hurlers in complete games (15), shutouts (7), strikeouts (145), and opponent batting average (.169). Wies is tied for second in the CCAA with eight complete games and is third in strikeouts (86). Toros' righty Alyssa Olague (8-6, 2.86 ERA) is second in the conference with 93 strikeouts.
Chico State leads the all-time series with Dominguez Hills 60-43. The Wildcats have been dominant in recent years, winning 22 of the last 23 meetings dating back to the 2014 season.
