IRVINE—Brooke Larsen was terrific in the pitcher's circle Thursday in the Chico State softball team's NCAA West Regional opener against Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Wildcats' ace allowed just three hits and struck out 10 in going the distance for the 21st time this season. Trouble was, Toros picher Alyssa Olague was just a bit more effective, holding the 'Cats to just five singles and not allowing a runner past first base all afternoon, as Dominguez Hills registered a 1-0 victory at Eagles Field on the campus of Concorida University.
 
Chico State's season record dipped to 36-16 with Thursday's loss, but more importantly dropped the Wildcats into the loser's bracket of the double-elimination West Regional. Now forced into "win or go home mode," Chico State will play Azusa Pacific Friday at 1:30 p.m., and the 'Cats will need a victory to keep their 2022 season alive.
 
Thursday's contest was a nail-biter from the word go. Larsen worked around two hit batters to turn away Dominguez Hills in the top of the first inning, but in the second a two-out, bases-loaded single by Kianna Abellera put the Toros on top 1-0. No one knew it at the time, but it would turn out to be the lone run of the contest.
 
Chico State, meanwhile, wasn't able to generate much offense early on against Olague, producing only an infield single by Amanda Metzger in the bottom of the second inning, and a two-out base hit by Grace Stover in the third.
 
The Toros threatened to add to their slim lead, putting two runners aboard in the top of the fourth inning, but Larsen induced a force play grounder and struck out Claudia Valencia to wiggle out of the jam. The Wildcats looked like they might get something going in bottom of the fourth when Nina Revoir lined a one-out single to left, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning and the 'Cats' bid to tie the game.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Sara Mitrano ripped a drive deep to right-center field, but Abellera made a sprawling catch while banging into the fence to rob Mitrano of extra bases. Rachel Bles followed with a single up the middle, but the Wildcats once again came up empty.
 
Larsen kept the 'Cats within striking distance by hanging zeroes on the Toros in the sixth and seventh innings, but Chico State couldn't capitalize. Anastacia Alba kept the Wildcats' heart beating by lining a two-out single to center, but Mitrano followed with a popup to shortstop to end the game, giving Cal State Dominguez Hill the 1-0 victory.
 
Links to online stats and live video streaming for Friday's Wildcat contest are accessible at www.chicowildcats.com in the calendar section of the website's homepage, and on the Chico State softball schedule page.