For the first time in what seemed like forever, the weather in Northern California finally cooperated with the Chico State softball team. The Wildcats were treated to sunny skies and cool but pleasant temperatures Tuesday as they hosted Cal Poly Humboldt in a series-ending doubleheader…the results, however, weren't nearly as enjoyable. The Lumberjacks won both ends of the twin bill, winning 8-6 and 4-1 to take three out of four from the 'Cats at University Softball Field.
With the doubleheader loss, Chico State dropped to 18-21 overall and slipped into a tie with Humboldt for seventh place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings with an 11-15 conference record. The Wildcats are still in the mix for one of five remaining CCAA Tournament berths, but will have to finish with a flourish over their final eight games to reach postseason play.
Though they came up short in the run column in both games of Tuesday's double dip, Chico State's offense was still able to rack up a combined 19 hits against Humboldt pitching. Hannah Levy led the way with four hits, including three doubles, while Grace Stover and Ashley Rocha had three knocks apiece. Tayler Berens and Katelyn Oldwin each had two hits for the 'Cats.
Things started encouragingly for Chico State in game one of the doubleheader, as Stover led off the bottom of the first inning with her first career home run as a Wildcat, a line shot over the right field fence. Later in the frame, the 'Cats ran their lead to 3-0 when Rocha delivered an opposite-field double to left, plating Berens and Anastacia Alba.
Chico State went up 4-0 with a run in the bottom of the second. Lanie Blomquist led off with a double and came home when a Stover ground ball was booted by the Lumberjacks.
Cal Poly Humboldt got on the board in the top of the third inning, using a two-run bomb by Vanessa Saltos to slice the Wildcats' lead in half. The Lumberjacks went out in front in the top of the fourth, sending 11 hitters to the plate and scoring six times to make it an 8-4 contest.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh inning, when Chico State mounted a furious two-out rally. Three consecutive singles by Stover, Blaire Willson, and Berens produced a run to make it 8-5, followed by a double by Levy that chased home Willson and put the potential tying runs in scoring position. Humboldt reliever Karen Di Dio was able to quell the uprising by striking out Alba to end the game, and the Lumberjacks escaped with the 8-6 victory.
The nightcap saw the Lumberjacks put up a crooked number in the top of the second inning. With two aboard, Julia Rivera blasted a home run to right-center field to give Humboldt a quick 3-0 lead. The 'Cats answered in their half of the second, as Oldwin delivered a two-out RBI single to knock in Kyra Gooler.
Chico State was able to get runners into scoring position in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, but came away empty each time. The Lumberjacks plated an insurance run in the top of the seventh, but the Wildcats refused to fold, as Oldwin doubled and Haily Seva singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Once again, though, the 'Cats were denied, as reliever Alyssa Smokey got the final two outs to preserve the Lumberjacks' 4-1 win, giving Humboldt the doubleheader sweep and series win.
Chico State is back in action this weekend in the team's final home series of the regular season. The Wildcats host the Gators of San Francisco State, with doubleheaders scheduled Friday beginning at 1 p.m. and Saturday starting at 11 a.m.
