The Chico State softball team took advantage of its opportunities in the first game of Friday's series-opening series against Sonoma State, capitalizing on a pair of Seawolves errors to scratch out a 2-0 win. It was a case of missed opportunities, though, in the nightcap—the Wildcats stranded a dozen baserunners and let an early five-run lead evaporate, as Sonoma State salvaged a split of the twin bill with an eight-inning, 9-8 victory at University Softball Field.
Chico State saw an 11-game winning come to an end and finished the day 35-12 on the season and 25-9 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Wildcats remain in second place in the conference standings, two games ahead of third place Sonoma State (35-15, 23-11 CCAA). With the two teams going head-to-head again Saturday in the final two games of the regular season, Chico State needs a doubleheader split to lock down the No. 2 seed in next week's CCAA Tournament.
Grace Stover enjoyed a memorable day at the plate, racking up five of the Wildcats' 16 hits over the two Friday contests. Hailey Seva contributed three hits to the 'Cats' offensive attack, with Nina Revoir and Amanda Metzger collecting two hits apiece.
Game one of Friday's double dip featured an outstanding pitcher's duel between Brooke Larsen of the Wildcats and Sonoma State's Jesse Dupuis, the reigning CCAA Pitcher of the Week. Thanks to two Seawolves errors, Chico State scored what turned out to be the only runs of the contest in the bottom of the first inning—Stover opened the frame with a single and came all away around to score when Sonoma State committed a throwing error on a Rachael Bles sacrifice bunt. Bles ended up at third on the play, and came home when Revoir's grounder to second was mishandled.
Larsen made the 2-0 lead stand up, but the Chico State ace had to wiggle out of a handful of jams along the way. The Seawolves loaded the bases in the top of the third inning, but came away empty; then in the fifth, Sonoma got two aboard but couldn't score.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Sonoma State got the tying run to the plate. Larsen proceeded to calmly retire Rylee Nishimoto on a bunt, then slammed the door on any late-inning dramatics by striking out Jordyn Martinez to end the game and give the 'Cats the 2-0 win.
Larsen raised her overall record to 18-4, scattering five hits and striking out 11 to record her CCAA-leading 10th shutout and 20th complete game on the year. Larsen has fanned 206 batters on the year, making her just the third pitcher in Chico State softball history to strike out at least 200 in a single season.
In the nightcap, it was the Seawolves breaking out on top, scoring twice in the top of the first inning against Chico State starting pitcher Mari Takeda Bajan. The Wildcats answered with authority in its half of the first, sending 13 batters to the plate and scoring seven times—Grace Gallagher was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to get the 'Cats on the board, then Metzger's line single to center drove in Revoir and Reilani Peleti and put Chico State on top 3-2. The Wildcats weren't done: Anastacia Alba doubled home a pair and came around to score on a two-base hit by Lanie Blomquist. Three straight walks—the last to Peleti with the bases loaded—forced home Blomquist to complete the multi-run rally and give the 'Cats a seemingly comfortable 7-2 advantage.
Sonoma State began to steadily chip away at the five-run deficit. The Seawolves took advantage of a Wildcats error to score a run in the top of the fourth inning, then added two more in the fifth. Meanwhile, Chico State was getting plenty of baserunners aboard against Sonoma State reliever Nichole Sarra in the middle innings, but couldn't come up with the big hit to cash in and extend its rapidly-shrinking lead.
In the sixth, Sonoma used two walks and two wild pitches to pull to within 7-6, then when ahead in the top of the seventh on a two-run double by Courtney Jack. The Wildcats came off the deck to tie the game at 8-8 with a run in the bottom of the seventh—Stover and Seva singled, Revoir walked to load the bases, and with Gallagher at the plate, Stover scored on a wild pitch—to send the game to extra innings.
With two outs in the top of the eighth, Martinez—the same Seawolves player who struck out to end game one—blasted a two-out solo homer to center field to put Sonoma State back on top. This time, the 'Cats had no answer, as Chico State went down in order in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the Seawolves the 9-8 win and the doubleheader split.
Takeda Bajan was tagged with the loss to slip to 8-4 on the season.
The Wildcats and Seawolves wrap up the series—and regular season play—Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 12 noon. Fans unable to attend in person can follow the action online with live streaming video via the CCAA Network (a monthly fee is required to view). 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.
Saturday also marks Senior Day, as the Wildcats take time out to celebrate the careers of seniors Rachael Atkins, Brooke Larsen, Angel Lopez, Amanda Metzger, Sara Mitrano, Reilani Peleti, and Nina Revoir. A special ceremony will precede the first game of the doubleheader beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m.
