CARSON—Nina Revoir is on quite a tear in the middle of the Chico State softball team's batting order. The power-hitting left fielder has slugged three home runs in her last three games, and Friday two of her round-trippers accounted for three of the Wildcats' four runs on the day—just enough offense to grind out a series-opening doubleheader split with Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Toros won the first game 5-2, and behind the three-hit pitching of Katelyn Oldwin, the 'Cats took the nightcap 2-0.
With the game two victory, Chico State snapped its season-long five game losing streak to move to 23-9 on the season and 15-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State Dominguez Hills finished the day 22-11 overall and 13-9 in CCAA play.
The first game of Friday's twin bill saw Dominguez Hills jump in front when Maiya Lopez led off the bottom of the second inning with a home run off Wildcats' starting pitcher Brooke Larsen. In the bottom of the third, two Toros singles, a stolen base, and two Chico State errors led to a pair of Dominguez Hills runs, making the score 3-0.
Toros starter Alyssa Olague, meanwhile, kept the 'Cats offense in check, retiring the first nine Wildcat batters she faced—seven via strikeout—before Grace Stover doubled to lead off the fourth inning.
Dominguez Hills added to its lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, and that would prove to be more than enough support for Olague. The Wildcats avoided the shutout when, with two outs and Grace Gallagher aboard in the top of the seventh inning, Revoir blasted her sixth home run of the year over the center field fence. The Toros quickly recovered to procure the final squeeze, giving Dominguez Hills the 5-2 victory.
Larsen allowed two earned runs and struck out four in her four innings in the pitcher's circle, but took the loss to dip to 13-3 on the season.
In the nightcap, Olague got the starting pitching assignment once again for the Toros, while the Wildcats countered with Oldwin. The two righthanders traded zeroes for the first three innings before Chico State broke through in the top of the fourth. It was another big fly by Revoir that got the 'Cats on the board, sending an Olague pitch sailing over the right-center field fence. Amanda Metzger immediately followed with a double, and came home on Gallagher's line single to center, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
Oldwin made the two-run advantage stand up, though things got very interesting at the end. Dominguez Hills got a runner aboard in both the fourth and fifth inning, but came away empty; Oldwin then retired the Toros in order in the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh inning, a two-out walk and a single put the potential tying runs on base for Dominguez Hills. Oldwin went to a full count to Alex Davis before striking out Davis looking to end it, giving the Wildcats the 2-0 win and the doubleheader split.
Metzger had three of the five Wildcat hits in game two, while Oldwin chalked up her third shutout and eighth complete game of the season, improving her record to 8-4. Olague took the loss for the Toros.
Chico State and Cal State Dominguez Hills wrap up their four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. 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.
