Timely hitting, shutdown pitching, and clutch defense…the cornerstones of a successful softball program. Though they rarely happen at the same time, the Chico State softball team flashed all three attributes in its Saturday doubleheader against Stanislaus State, resulting in an extremely productive day. The Wildcats took a pair from the host Warriors 4-0 and 3-2 to complete a four-game series sweep at Warrior Softball Field in Turlock.
With the two Saturday wins, the Wildcats improve to 34-11 on the season and 24-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Chico State, sitting in second place in the conference standings, will enter the final week of regular season just one game behind first place Cal State San Marcos and two games up on third place Sonoma State.
The doubleheader loss all but eliminates Stanislaus State from postseason play, as the Warriors dropped to 15-28 overall and 9-23 in the CCAA.
The Wildcats collected a combined 14 hits on the day. Reilani Peleti led the way with three hits and three runs batted in, while Alani Nguyen added three hits and an RBI. Nina Revoir, Grace Stover, and Anastacia Alba each had two hits as Chico State extended its current winning streak to 10 straight.
Chico State opened the scoring in game one of Saturday's double dip, as three Stanislaus State errors in the top of the third inning led to a pair of Wildcat runs. Rachael Bles reached on a dropped fly ball and came home when Stover's pop-up to short right field was mishandled. Blaire Willson got aboard on a bobbled grounder, and Revoir shot a single through the left side to plate Stover.
The 'Cats cashed in on another Stanislaus error in the top of the fifth inning, as Willson wound up at second base on a dropped fly ball and came home when Peleti rifled a single to center to make the score 3-0. Chico State added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on back-to-back two-out doubles by Revoir and Nguyen.
The Warriors only managed one legitimate scoring threat against Wildcats' starting pitcher Brooke Larsen, getting a runner to third base in the third inning, but the Chico State ace was commanding throughout. Larsen finished with a flourish by striking out the last three Stanislaus hitters she faced in the bottom of the seventh to lock down the 'Cats' 4-0 victory.
Larsen allowed just three hits and struck out six in raising her season record to 17-4. She also recorded her CCAA-leading ninth shutout and 19th complete game of the season.
In the second game of the doubleheader, it was Stanislaus State jumping out to an early lead, scoring single runs in the first and second inning. Chico State cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth when a Stanislaus throwing error allowed Peleti to score from third base.
The Wildcats plated what turned out to be the deciding runs in the top of the fifth inning—with one out, Anastacia Alba and Grace Stover singled, then pulled off a double steal. Peleti knocked them both in with a ground single up the middle, putting Chico State in front 3-2.
Stanislaus State threatened to tie up the contest in the bottom of the fifth and bottom of the sixth, but left runners in scoring position in both innings. It was still a one-run game in the bottom of the seventh inning when the Warriors' Lauryn Serda led off with a single. But the 'Cats' defense picked the exact right time to come up with a huge play, erasing the potential tying run by turning a double play. Wildcats' pitcher Mari Takeda Bajan then got Karli Dalbianco to ground out to end it, giving Chico State the 3-2 win, the doubleheader and the series sweep.
Takeda Bajan tossed five-and-a-third scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win, improving to 8-3 on the season.
The Wildcats wrap up regular season play next week, returning home to face the red-hot Sonoma State Seawolves (34-14 overall, 22-10 in CCAA play, and winners of 12 in a row). The big four-game series gets underway with a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m., with a Saturday twin bill scheduled to start at 12 noon. Saturday will also feature Senior Day festivities prior to the first game.
