There were plenty of smiles, hugs, and no doubt a tear of two at University Softball Field  prior to Saturday's series- and regular-season ending doubleheader against Sonoma State. The careers of Wildcat seniors Rachael Atkins, Brooke Larsen, Angel Lopez, Amanda Metzger, Sara Mitrano, Reilani Peleti, and Nina Revoir were celebrated during an emotional Senior Day ceremony—but once it was game time, the 'Cats and Seawolves were all business. Reilani Peleti's walk-off RBI single gave Chico State a 2-1 victory in the opener, but Sonoma State came back to win the nightcap, withstanding a seventh inning Wildcats' rally to prevail 4-3.
 
Chico State and Sonoma State ended up splitting the weekend's four-game set, and the Wildcats wrapped up regular season play with a 36-13 record, finishing in second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 26-10 conference mark. Sonoma State left Chico 36-16 overall, coming in third in the CCAA with a 24-12 conference mark.
 
Ironically, the Wildcats and Seawolves could once again go head-to-head next Thursday during opening round action of the CCAA Tournament in Seaside.
 
Chico State put a baker's dozen in the hit column during Saturday's doubleheader. Amanda Metzger had four of the 'Cats' 13 hits on the afternoon, with Grace Stover picking up three knocks to give her eight hits in the series.
 
Like Friday's series opener, game one of Saturday's double dip saw Chico State's Brooke Larsen and Jessie Dupuis of Sonoma State locked up in an intense pitcher's duel. The Wildcats drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning, using a double by Grace Gallagher and back-to-back singles by Larsen and Metzger to give the 'Cats a 1-0 lead.
 
Larsen made that one-run lead stand up for six innings, allowing just three hits while striking out eight Sonoma State batters. In the seventh, though, the Seawolves knotted up the contest when Skylar Linnane led off the frame with a solo home run to center field. Mari Takeda Bajan came in from the Wildcats' bullpen to get the final three outs of the inning and keep the score deadlocked, setting the stage for Chico State's winning rally in the bottom of the seventh.
 
After Rachael Bles lined out to shortstop, Stover ripped a double down the left field line. Stover advanced to third on a Hailey Seva fly out, leaving it up to Peleti to provide some Senior Day heroics. The senior delivered, lining a two-out single to right-center field to plate Stover to end the game and give Chico State the 2-1 victory.
 
The nightcap was a scoreless affair until Cassidy Romano's leadoff homer in the top of the fourth put Sonoma State in front, and before the inning was over, the Seawolves added two more runs and extend their lead to 3-0. Chico State could not get anything going against Sonoma State starting pitcher Bailee Reed, but finally got on the board with a run in the bottom of the fifth—Bles rifled a double to left field that one-hopped the fence, scoring Metzger all the way from first base to make it a 3-1 game.
 
The Seawolves scored what turned out to be the decisive run in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI triple by Briana Avalos. Sonoma took their 4-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh when the Wildcat bats finally came alive—a double by Nina Revoir, an infield single by Metzger, and a walk to Blaire Willson loaded the bases with two outs. Kyra Gooler came through with a pinch-hit single to right field to knock in Revoir and Metzger and send Willson to third, pulling the 'Cats to within a run. But Chico State's late-inning rally fell just short, as Stover flied out to right field to end it, giving the Seawolves the 4-3 win and the doubleheader split.
 
Chico State, reaching postseason play for the sixth consecutive season, now turns its attention to the double-elimination CCAA Tournament, taking place this coming Thursday through Sunday at Cal State Monterey Bay's Otter Sports Complex. Up for grabs is the conference tournament crown, and with it, an automatic berth in the NCAA Championship Tournament.
 
As the tourney's No. 2 seed, the Wildcats will face the winner of Thursday's first CCAA Tournament game, pitting No. 3 Sonoma State against No. 6 Cal State East Bay. Chico State will play either the Seawolves or Pioneers Thursday at 4 p.m.
 
Fans planning to attend the CCAA Tournament can purchase their tickets online, or keep up with action online via Live Stats and live streaming video. Links will be available at www.chicowildcats.com in the calendar section of the website's homepage, and on the Chico State softball schedule page.
 
CCAA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
 
Thursday, May 5
Game 1: No. 3 Sonoma State (36-16) vs. No. 6 Cal State East Bay (24-25), 11 a.m.
Game 2: No. 4 Cal State Dominguez Hills (35-17) vs. No. 5 Cal State Monterey Bay (33-19), 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: No. 2 Chico State (36-13) vs. Winner of Game 1, 4 p.m.
Game 4: No. 1 Cal State San Marcos (39-9) vs. Winner of Game 2, 6:30 p.m.
 
Friday, May 6
Game 5: Loser of Game 2 vs. Loser of Game 3, 11 a.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 6: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 4, 1:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 4 p.m.
 
Saturday, May 7
Game 8: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6, 11 a.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 9: Loser of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8, 1:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
 
Sunday, May 8
Game 10: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9, 10 a.m.
Game 11: (if necessary) 30 minutes after the end of Game 10