The frustration continues for the Chico State baseball team.
Entering Saturday's doubleheader on a 10-game California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) losing skid, the Wildcats fell to No. 23 Cal State San Bernardino in game one, 5-3, despite a rally effort in the ninth inning. In game two, the Wildcats got energy going in their dugout after a Jacob Jablonski lead-off home run in the sixth inning sparked a 4-run inning that gave them a two-run lead, but the Yotes showed why they are one of the best offensive teams in the conference by rallying and scoring five unanswered runs in the seventh and final inning to stun Chico State 8-6 and take both the twinbill and the series.
The 'Cats fall to 15-21 overall but having lost 12 straight conference games dips their CCAA record to 9-17 and fall into 10
th place in the standings. Based win-loss percentage within the conference, the 'Cats are at .346, trailing Cal State East Bay's .483 mark for the sixth and final spot to the CCAA Tournament with nine games remaining.
Game 1 – CSUSB 5, CHICO 3
Pitching and defense helped carry the 'Cats through most of the game. Justin Tamelier had given up 10 hits to the offensively powerful Yotes but did strike out six and didn't issue a walk. The two runs he gave up were in the fifth inning. With runners at the corners and one out, the 2-3 hitting combo Deshawn Johnson and Daryl Ruiz would hit back-to-back RBI singles to give CSUSB a 2-0 lead.
The difference in the game came in the ninth inning. Starting with the visiting Yotes, they got the inning started with the bases loaded without recording a hit. Giovanni Del Negro knocked in two runs with a single down the left field line and Ruiz scored all the way from second on a single to the outfield following a defensive miscue.
Chico State had looked for a rally throughout the game and found it in its half of the ninth. Logan Drummond was hit by the pitch to lead the inning off, and Jablonski drew a five-pitch walk. Elijah Jackson earned a one-out walk to load the bases. Kyle Dobson hit into a fielder's choice during a game-ending double-play attempt that allowed Drummond to score. Pinch-hitter Andrew Crane singled through the right side to bring home Jablonski and a crucial fielding error by the shortstop AJ Barazza allowed Dobson to score and keep the game to continue with the tying run at the plate. Closing pitcher Oscar Rauda, who came into the game with two out and runners at first and second, got the third out on a strikeout to pick up his 22
nd career save to break the Yotes' program record.
San Bernardino totaled 13 hits but left 12 runners on base, Chico State had four hits and six left on base.
Game 2 – CSUSB 8, CHICO 6
Chico State had to play catch-up after starter Ethan Lay gave up three runs in the first two innings to give San Bernardino a 3-0 lead. Lay would settle down after a leadoff double in the third and retire nine straight batters before handing the ball off the bullpen in the sixth inning.
The 'Cats were quiet against Dylan O'Connor until the fifth inning, and it was a critical Yotes error that enabled Chico State to tie the game. With two down, Ernie Arambula hit a grounder that was misfielded by the second baseman Matt Gonzales to allow the inning to continue. The next batter Jeffrey Ray hooked a line drive to left field that allowed Arambula to score. After Drummond walked, Jackson copied off Ray's at-bat by doubling to left to score in the tying run.
Jablonski's home run to start the sixth inning brought the Chico State dugout to life. Zach Morris hit a one-out single to right center and pinch-runner Kaden Bass stole second, but it eventually wasn't needed as Jeremy Keller drew a walk to put runners on first and second. The crucial hit at that moment came from Arambula, who hit a hard bouncer that ricocheted off the first baseman Ruiz and into the Wildcats' bullpen area for an RBI double, giving Chico State a 4-3 lead. Drummond also came up clutch with a two-run single up the middle that gave the 'Cats a two-run lead, but that was all they could score.
Chico State learned it the hard way that even a three-run lead was not safe against the Yotes. CSUSB loaded the bases on a single, a hit-by-pitch and a walk to start the seventh and final inning. Riley Parker punished Chico State for those pitching mistakes by raking a two-run single to make it a one-run game. Then, with the bases loaded and down to the last out, Johnson brought them all home with a double to the center field fence.
The 'Cats had a rally attempt going in their half of the seventh. With Rauda back on the mound, Crane drew a one-out walk and then with two away Nathan Meredith singled and Arambula walked to load the bases, but the closer got the third out on a flyout to right field.
The two teams will conclude the four-game series Sunday at 11 a.m.
