IRVINE—To keep its 2022 season alive, the Chico State softball team were faced with the challenge Friday of winning two elimination games at the NCAA West Regional in Irvine. True to their never-say-die spirit, the Wildcats very nearly pulled it off. The 'Cats started play with an exciting 3-0 victory over Azusa Pacific, but concluded the day—and the season—dropping a heartbreaking 2-1 decision to Concordia University.
 
Though Chico State finished the year with an overall record of 37-17, Angel Shamblin was very complimentary of her team's performance on what turned out to be the final day of the 2022 season.
 
"We fought really hard," Shamblin said during a press conference following the Concordia game. "I'm proud of our effort today…we were one hit away from winning that game (against Concordia)."
 
Flanked by Brooke Larsen and Reilani Peleti, Shamblin used the press conference to rave about her seven outgoing senior players, which also included Angel Lopez, Amanda Metzger, Nina Revoir, Sara Mitrano, and Rachael Atkins.
 
"I'm really proud of our senior class and everything they've brought to the program," Shamblin said. "They've passed down some great traditions that we're going to take with us. They've made us better, and we're going to miss them."
 
Friday's final results may not have gone Chico State's way, but at the very least, the Wildcats treated their fans to an exciting day of softball.
 
Larsen set the tone for Chico State in the Friday's first game against Azusa Pacific, allowing just one hit and striking out five Cougars batters in her first three innings of work in the pitcher's circle. Larsen was matched by Azusa Pacific righthander Katie Korstrom, who held the Wildcats hitless through the first three frames.
 
The Wildcats finally broke through in the top of the fourth inning, taking advantage of three Azusa Pacific errors to put a crooked number on the scoreboard. Peleti led off with an infield single, and Revoir followed with a ground single between short and third. The ball got by the Cougars' left fielder, allowing Peleti to come all the way around to score. Revoir ended up at third on the play, and came home when Larsen blooped a single to right field. Again the ball was misplayed by Azusa Pacific, with Larsen ending up at third base. Mitrano's two-out grounder to shortstop was bobbled, allowing Larsen to score and extending Chico State's advantage to 3-0.
 
The Cougars threatened in the bottom of the sixth, using an infield single and a Wildcats error to get the first two hitters aboard. Larsen, though, quickly scuttled the rally by striking out Caitlin Decanio, inducing Dani Burghardt to ground out, and fanning Amanda Woods to end the inning.
 
Chico State took its three-run cushion into the seventh inning, and looked for Larsen to close it out. The Wildcats' ace did just that, and with authority, retiring Azusa Pacific in order in the bottom of the seventh to lock down the 3-0 victory and end the Cougars' 2022 season.
 
Larsen struck out eight on the way to her 11th shutout of the season, raising her overall record to 19-5.
 
Larsen jumped right back in the pitcher's circle to face Concordia for the day's second elimination game, but the Cougars drew first blood in the top of the first inning, combining a walk, a two-out single, and a Wildcats error to grab an early lead. In the second, an RBI single by Megan Massa plated another Concordia run to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead.
 
Concordia threatened to score again in the top of the third inning, but Revoir came up with a big defensive play, fielding a single in left field off the bat of Lauren Lopez and throwing out Michalah Robison at the plate.
 
The Cougars' starting pitcher, Katlin Entrup, kept the Wildcats in check during the first four innings, with a clean single to left by Grace Stover accounting for the lone Chico State hit during that stretch.
 
The 'Cats kept battling. In the bottom of the fifth, Chico State got a runner to second base with one out, but the mini-rally was snuffed out by an inning-ending double play.
 
Down to their last six outs, the 'Cats made some noise early in the bottom of the sixth. Stover led off the inning with a ringing double to the base of the right-center field fence, and Anastacia Alba followed with a walk. A flyout to right field sent Stover to third, who scored on a sacrifice fly by Revoir. Alba moved into scoring position on a Concordia throwing error, but the score remained 2-1 as Grace Gallagher flied out to left.
 
That would be as close as the 'Cats would get, but they definitely made Concordia sweat. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Mitrano drew a two-out walk, and Rachael Bles singled up the middle. With the potential tying run in scoring position, Eagles reliever Erika Morris got two quick strikes on Stover, who then sent a hard-hit grounder to third. Pinch-runner Tayler Berens was forced out at third to end the game, giving Concordia the 2-1 victory and ending Chico State's 2022 season.
 
Larsen again went the distance in the circle, striking out seven and posting her 23rd complete game of the year.
 
Even though the Wildcats came up short in their quest for a national championship, there was plenty to highlight another successful Chico State softball season. Fueled by a pair of double-digit winning streaks, the 'Cats' 37 victories marked the fifth time in as many full seasons that a Chico State softball team has won at least 30 games. The Wildcats' pitching staff led the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in both strikeouts (387), earned run average (2.08), and opponent batting average (.223), while Chico State presided in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 Poll for the majority of the season.
 
With 15 players expected back next year, and a new batch of quality recruits on the way, the 2023 Chico State softball season is one that fans are already eagerly awaiting. And if it's anything like the just-completed 2022 campaign, there will plenty for the Wildcat faithful to be excited about.