POMONA—You can only hold the 'Cats down for so long. The Chico State baseball team's high-octane offense, uncharacteristically quiet with just five hits in two games against Cal Poly Pomona, came alive Sunday afternoon in the series finale, jumping out to a double-digit lead and then withstanding a couple of late charges by the Broncos to prevail 13-9 in action at Scolinos Field in Pomona.
Sunday's win moved Chico State to 12-4 overall and 5-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal Poly Pomona slipped to 8-8 on the season and 3-4 in CCAA play.
The Wildcats' offense piled up 13 hits on the day, with the heart of the order doing pretty much all of the damage. Jarret Lindsay went 2-for-3 with a home run and six runs batted in, while Zach Morris launched a big fly among his three hits and drove in four. Grady Morgan went 4-for-4 and scored four times, with Jacob Jablonski contributing two hits and four runs scored. Elijah Jackson went 2-for-5 with a run batted in.
Chico State quickly staked starting pitcher Braeden Gowdy to a lead by posting a crooked number in the top of the second inning. Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases, and Morris immediately delivered a double to bring home Morgan and Jablonski. An RBI groundout by Jackson plated another run, putting the Wildcats in front 3-0.
The 'Cats added a four-spot in the top of the third inning—with Morgan and Jablonski aboard, Lindsay blasted his first home run of the year over the left field wall. Morris then stepped to the plate and promptly went yard for the first time this season, extending Chico State's advantage to 7-0.
The Wildcats continued to put the pedal to the metal, plating three more runs in the fourth. Morgan and Jeffrey Ray came home on a base hit by Lindsay, and later in the inning Jablonski scored on an error to make it a 10-0 contest.
Gowdy tossed an effective five innings for the 'Cats, allowing just a run on four hits while striking out five. The Chico State bullpen took over in the sixth, but Cal Poly Pomona made things interesting, batting around in the bottom of the seventh and scoring five times to pull to within 10-6.
That would be as close as the Broncos would get. The Wildcats answered with three runs in the top of the ninth inning—Lindsay was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing home Willie Lajoie; Morris came through with an RBI single to plate Morgan, and Andrew Crane's sacrifice fly chased home Jablonski from third to give the 'Cats a more comfortable seven-run cushion.
The Broncos continued to battle, scoring three times in their half of the ninth, but reliever Eric Hill was finally able to secure the final out and lock down the 13-9 Wildcats win.
Gowdy earned the victory for the 'Cats to raise his season record to 4-0.
Chico State returns home next weekend to host the Gators of San Francisco State. The four-game series gets underway with a single game Friday at 3 p.m., followed by a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon. The series concludes with a single game Sunday starting at noon.
