SAN BERNARDINO—During the course of a long softball season, players frequently have to deal with hitting slumps. When everyone's bats go quiet at the same time, it makes winning games extremely difficult. The Chico State softball is currently doing its best to bust out of a team-wide batting funk, but the Wildcats aren't there yet. The bats once again fell silent Saturday in dropping both ends of a doubleheader to Cal State San Bernardino, as the Coyotes completed a three-game series sweep with 10-1 and 5-0 victories over the 'Cats.
Chico State has now dropped four straight decisions to slip to 11-12 on the season and 6-9 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). With the three-game series sweep, Cal State San Bernardino improved to 17-15 overall and 13-10 in CCAA play.
After managing just five hits in Friday's series opener, the Wildcats combined for just seven total hits in Saturday's doubleheader loss. Mia Santos collected three hits for the 'Cats, while Blaire Willson had a pair of hits on the day.
Game one of Saturday's doubleheader saw Chico State threaten to open the scoring in the top of the second inning, using a San Bernardino error and back-to-back singles by Hailey Seva and Ashley Rocha to load the bases with just one out. Coyotes pitcher Natalie Carlos, however, was able to wiggle out of the jam by striking out the next two Wildcats hitters to keep the contest scoreless.
It didn't stay scoreless for long. In the bottom of the third inning, the roof caved in on the 'Cats, as San Bernardino jumped on Chico State pitchers Katelyn Oldwin and Mari Takeda Bajan by stringing together six hits, three walks, a hit batter, and a wild pitch to score 10 times in the frame.
The Wildcats avoided the shutout in the top of the fifth when Grace Stover's RBI groundout plated Willson, but it wasn't nearly enough to keep the Coyotes from registering the 10-1 victory.
Chico State was able to put runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings in game two of the twin bill, but the absence of a clutch hit resulted in no runs for the Wildcats. San Bernardino also had early chances to get on the board, but 'Cats' starting pitcher Amelie Valdez got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the first inning and stranded a Coyotes runner at second base in the bottom of the second.
San Bernardino used the long ball to grab a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. With two on and two out, Alyssa Martinez blasted a home run to dead center field to put the 'Yotes on top. Two innings later, the Wildcats were victims of another round-tripper, as a two-run opposite field shot by Tereise Tosi put San Bernardino up by five.
The 'Cats would have no answer, as Coyotes starting pitcher Samantha Vargas retired 10 straight Chico State batters and 13 of the last 15, giving Cal State San Bernardino the 5-0 victory, the doubleheader win, and the series sweep.
Chico State takes a break from conference play next weekend, taking part in the 20th annual Tournament of Champions, presented by the City of Turlock. The Wildcats will play five games during the three-day event, with their first game scheduled Friday at 11:30 a.m. against Holy Names.
