Three softball games in one day. Even the most passionate fans of the sport can be excused for feeling fatigued and getting a little bleary-eyed by the end of the tripleheader's final contest. There was certainly plenty to enjoy for those in attendance Saturday at University Softball Field, though, as Stanislaus State walloped Academy of Art 17-0 in the morning game, followed by back-to-back Chico State victories, as the host Wildcats downed Academy of Art 10-2 and wrapped up the day with a 7-3 win over Stanislaus.
The two wins Saturday moved Chico State to 5-3 on the season. The Wildcats outscored their opponents 18-5 in the three games played over the weekend.
The 'Cats rapped out a combined 22 hits over their two Saturday contests, with Anastacia Alba and Ashlee Toy collecting four safeties apiece. Grace Gallagher contributed three hits, while Rachael Bles, Grace Stover, Tayler Berens, and Katelyn Oldwin had two hits apiece. Oldwin also blasted the Wildcats' first home run of the season.
In Chico State's first game of the day, the Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 second inning lead over Academy of Art. Oldwin reached on an infield single and scored from first base on a double by Alba, who came all the way around to cross the plate thanks to an Urban Knights throwing error. Later in the frame, Bles reached on an error and scored on a two-out single by Blaire Willson.
Academy of Art cut the deficit to a run in the top of the third inning, capitalizing on a two-out Wildcats error and a bases-loaded walk to plate a pair. The 'Cats got the runs back in the bottom of third when Stover scored from third base on a wild pitch, and Alba singled home Gallagher.
While Oldwin kept the Urban Knights in check with some solid work in the pitcher's circle, Chico State methodically put the game away. Thanks to two walks, a wild pitch, and a two-out Academy of Art error, the Wildcats scored twice without the benefit of a hit in the bottom of the fourth inning. In the fifth, Oldwin led off with a home run to left field and Toy later bunted home Bles from third base to make it a 9-2 ballgame.
The 'Cats put an end to the proceedings in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Mia Santos scored on Academy of Art's fourth error of the contest, giving Chico State the 10-2 victory.
Oldwin went the distance and struck out seven to pick up her first win of the season.
In Saturday's late game, the Wildcats squared off in a non-conference tilt with Stanislaus State. Earlier in the day, the Warriors had racked up 20 hits in their 17-0 rout of Academy of Art, but could only muster one hit off Chico State starting pitcher Amelie Valdez over the first six frames. The 'Cats gave Valdez some early run support, with Bles singling home Alba and Kyra Gooler in the bottom of the second inning.
Stanislaus starter Jessell Lewis matched Valdez zero-for-zero through the next three frames before Chico State broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth. A run-scoring single by Berens, a sacrifice fly by Gooler, an RBI groundout by Alba, and a two-out, two-run single by Toy put five on the board for the 'Cats, who went up 7-0.
In its final at-bat, Stanislaus finally made some noise, scoring twice against Valdez and loading the bases with nobody out. Mari Takeda Bajan was summoned from the Wildcats' bullpen and promptly snuffed out the Warriors rally—the sophomore righthander struck out pinch hitter Avery Fitch, then after a fielder's choice grounder plated another Stanislaus run, Takeda Bajan fanned Katie Thornsberry to end it, giving Chico State the 7-3 win.
Valdez (3-1) allowed just one earned run in six-plus innings of work, while Takeda Bajan earned her second save of the season.
Chico State is home again next weekend, as the Wildcats kick off California Collegiate Athletic Assocation (CCAA) play against Cal State Monterey Bay. The four-game series with the Otters begins Friday with a doubleheader at 12 noon, followed by a twin bill Saturday starting at 11 a.m.
