For the Chico State softball team, winning on Cal State Monterey Bay's home field—especially during the postseason—has been challenging. For the second straight season, the Wildcats were one of the first teams eliminated in the CCAA Tournament at the Otter Sports Complex (the host facility in both 2019 and 2022), dropping back-to-back contests. After falling in extra innings to Sonoma State on Thursday, the 'Cats staged a late-inning rally Friday against Cal State Dominguez Hills, only to see the Toros hang on for a 6-5 victory.
Chico State exits the CCAA Tournament with a season record of 36-15. But despite the two tournament losses, the Wildcats—which began the week ranked No. 3 in the NCAA West Region rankings—are likely to see more postseason action in their immediate future.
Reilani Peleti had four of the Wildcats' seven hits against Dominguez Hils, giving the senior first baseman five safeties—including a home run—in her two tournament games.
After Mari Takeda Bajan pitched out of a second and third, no out jam in the top of the first inning, the Wildcats rewarded her in the bottom of the frame with an early lead. Peleti lined a two-out single to right field, and Nina Revoir followed with her ninth home run of the year, losing the ball over the right-center field fence to put Chico State in front 2-0.
The Toros would not be denied in the top of the second inning, scoring four times to take the lead. The 'Cats answered immediately in their half of the frame, cashing in walks issued to Amanda Metzger and Rachael Bles thanks to an RBI single by Grace Stover and a Dominguez Hills throwing error, knotting up the contest at 4-4.
The Toros jumped back on top 6-4 in the fourth inning on a two-out, two-run single by Claudia Valencia. While Chico State reliever Katelyn Oldwin kept the Dominguez Hills offense in check the rest of the way, the Wildcats could not solve Clarisa Ramirez, the second Toros pitcher of the day. Ramirez came in to get the final out of the second inning, then retired 12 of the next 13 'Cats batters she faced over the next four frames, giving up just a two-out single to Peleti in the bottom of the fifth.
Ramirez was still in the circle in the bottom of the seventh when Chico State mounted a last-chance rally. Taylor Berens came off the bench to deliver a leadoff homer to right field, cutting the deficit to one. Stover got aboard on an error, and an infield single by Peleti and a walk to Revoir loaded the bases with two outs. With the potential tying and winning runs in scoring position, Grace Gallagher worked the count full, but ultimately grounded out to second base to end the game, giving Dominguez Hills the 6-5 victory to knock the 'Cats out of the conference tournament.
Chico State will now take the weekend off before finding out its NCAA Championship Tournament fate Monday morning. The NCAA Selection Show, which reveals all 64 teams that will advance to play for the Division II national title, takes place live at 7 a.m. Pacific time on
www.ncaa.com. If the Wildcats are one of the eight teams chosen to represent the West Region, they will play next Thursday through Saturday at a site to be determined during Monday's Selection Show announcement.
