Chico State softball fans are in for a treat this Friday and Saturday. Not only do they get to see the Wildcats play at home for the first time this season, two other teams will be in action in some important non-conference games at University Softball Field. The two days of softball will feature five contests: Friday, the 'Cats host Academy of Art at 11:30 a.m., followed by Academy of Art and Stanislaus State at 2 p.m. Saturday, Academy of Art and Stanislaus State meet again at 9:30 a.m., then Chico State plays twice, taking on Academy of Art at 12 noon and Stanislaus State at 2:30 p.m.
Fans unable to attend can follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video, with links located on the Wildcat Athletics homepage and the softball schedule page. Accessing the live video stream requires a monthly subscription fee that grants users access to every CCAA event on the network, home and away.
The three games this weekend will be the Wildcats' final non-conference tune-up before beginning California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play February 17 against Cal State Monterey Bay.
Chico State opened the 2023 season last week in Irvine at the three-day Concordia Kickoff Classic in Irvine. The Wildcats finished play with a 2-3 record, but they were competitive in all five games, as all three losses were decided by a single run. The 'Cats' two wins came against Northwest Nazarene Friday (7-0) and Biola on Saturday (6-4).
Academy of Art is 1-3 on the young season. The Urban Knights were swept by William Jessup in a season-opening doubleheader February 1, but they came back to split two games last Friday in Santa Rosa, dropping a 3-2 decision to Saint Martin's but rebounding to beat Sonoma State 7-2 in a five inning contest that was called due to darkness.
Academy of Art is coming off a 10-43 season in 2022 and an eighth place finish in the PacWest Conference. Chico State topped the Urban Knights 9-1 at last season's Concordia Kickoff Classic, and have won eight of the 10 all-time meetings since 2009.
Stanislaus State is playing its first games of the 2023 campaign. The Warriors posted a 17-30 record in 2022 and finished ninth in the CCAA with an 11-25 conference mark. Chico State swept a four-game series with Stanislaus last season in Turlock, and has won the last seven head-to-head meetings. The Wildcats hold a 99-64 lead in the all-time series between the two teams.
