HOUSTON—After Friday's less-than-auspicious start to the 2023 season, the Chico State baseball team appeared destined for another rough day at the yard Saturday against Florida's Flagler College. The Saints immediately put the Wildcats back on their heels, exploding for four first inning runs, but following that initial outburst, starting pitcher Ethan Lay and relievers Cody Gentry and Marco Ibarra came up big, combining to hold Flagler scoreless for the rest of the game. The 'Cats' offense took care of the rest, scoring four in the fourth inning and single runs in the fifth and seventh to post a 6-4 victory in day two action at the Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park.
The season's first win evened Chico State's record at 1-1, while Flagler dropped to 0-2. Gentry got credit for the win, surviving some control issues to toss two-and-two-thirds scoreless innings, while Ibarra slammed the door with an outstanding closing effort, scattering three hits and not allowing a score over three-and-a-third innings.
Lay, a freshman righthander making his Chico State debut, struck out the first hitter he faced in the top of the first inning, but after surrendering a single, gave up a home run to Taylor Clapp that sailed over Minute Maid Park's famed Crawford Boxes in left field. Before the frame was over, Flagler had pushed two more runs across the plate to jump out to a 4-0 lead.
The Wildcats pulled even with a four-spot of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jacob Jablonski led off with a home run to left field, and consecutive base hits by Xabi Iparraguirre, Dom Meza, and Cameron Mahaffy loaded the bases with nobody out. Jarret Lindsay promptly delivered a two-run single to center, and an RBI groundout by Ernie Arambula knotted up the score at 4-4.
In the bottom of the fifth, the 'Cats went out in front when Meza walked and eventually scored from third on a wild pitch. Chico State played small ball to add an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, as Lindsay's safety squeeze bunt plated pinch-runner Andrew Crane from third, extending the Wildcats' advantage.
Flagler went quietly in the top of the eighth inning, but in the top of the ninth the Saints came up with a pair of two-out singles to get the potential tying run aboard. Ibarra shut down any thoughts of a final inning comeback, getting Matthew Burke to line out to center field to end the game and give Chico State the 6-4 victory.
The Wildcats wrap up the Houston Winter Invitational Sunday morning, and they face a formidable opponent in defending NCAA Division II national champion North Greenville from Tigerville, South Carolina. In their two Houston Invitational contests—both victories—the Crusaders have scored a combined 23 runs.
The game gets underway at 8 a.m. Pacific time Sunday, and fans can follow the action locally on KPAY Sports 1290-AM, with Mike Baca's broadcast simulcast on the Internet. Live Stats are also available online, with links accessible on the Wildcat Athletics homepage and the baseball schedule page.
