TURLOCK—It was something of a mixed bag Saturday for the Chico State softball team at the Tournament of Champions in Turlock. The Wildcats rolled out a pair of quality pitching performances, but it took until the day's second game for the offense to get untracked. As a result, the 'Cats began the day dropping a tight 3-2 decision to Azusa Pacific before rebounding with a resounding 13-0 victory over Dominican in action at the Pedretti Sports Complex.
With the Saturday split, Chico State is now 25-11 on the season.
The Wildcats collected 21 hits on the day, 15 of which came in game two against Dominican. Reilani Peleti led the way with four hits and five runs batted in; Grace Stover collected three hits and scored four runs, while Nina Revoir also had three hits including her eighth home run of the year. Drew Rodriguez, Anastacia Alba, and Kyra Gooler each contributed a pair of hits to the 'Cats' offensive attack.
In the Wildcats' first game Saturday, Azusa Pacific—which saw its 10-game winning streak come to an end earlier in the day at the hands of Central Washington—jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, using a pair of doubles to score a run in the first inning and a solo home run by Caitlin Decanio to add another in the second.
The Wildcats had several chances to cut into the deficit, but couldn't come up with the big hit to get on the scoreboard. Chico State left two runners aboard in the bottom of the first, squandered a leadoff double by Brooke Larsen in the second, and was unable to capitalize on a third inning triple by Hailey Seva.
The 'Cats finally got the clutch hit they were looking for in the bottom of the fifth inning, when Peleti's two-out triple chased home Rodriguez and Angel Lopez to tie the game. It didn't stay knotted up for long, however, as Azusa Pacific strung together a double, infield single, and sacrifice fly to go back in front in the top of the sixth.
Chico State tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, with Rodriguez delivering a two-out single to get the potential tying run aboard. Cougars pitcher Katie Korstrom was able to seal the deal by getting Seva to ground out to end the game and give Azusa Pacific the hard-fought 3-2 victory.
Larsen went the distance in the pitcher's circle for the Wildcats, striking out nine, but took the loss to dip to 13-4 on the season.
The 'Cats didn't dwell on the Saturday setback for long, as two hours later they went into their game against Dominican with bats a-blazing. Revoir's two-run homer was bookended by RBI singles from Peleti and Katelyn Oldwin in the top of the first inning to give Chico State a quick 4-0 lead. The Wildcats added three more in the second—Peleti singled home Stover and later in the frame scored on a two-out error; moments later Revoir crossed the plate courtesy of passed ball, ballooning Chico State's advantage to 7-0.
In the top of the third inning the 'Cats struck again. Stover led off with a single and scored when Alba doubled to left-center field. Alba promptly stole third base and came home on Peleti's single up the middle, making it a 9-0 game.
Chico State took advantage of two Dominican errors to plate four runs in the top of the fifth inning, capped off by a Gooler RBI single. That would be more than enough offense for Oldwin to bring home the win, as she tossed a scoreless bottom of the fifth to complete her fourth shutout of the season and put the finishing touches on the Wildcats' 13-0 victory.
Oldwin scattered four hits and struck out six to earn the victory, improving to 9-4 on the year.
The Wildcats wrap up the Tournament of Champions Sunday with a single game against Chaminade at 12:30 p.m.
