Grace Gallagher was the center of attention Saturday morning, as fans, players and teammates paid tribute during Senior Day ceremonies prior to game one of the Wildcats' series-ending doubleheader with San Francisco State. By the end of the afternoon, though, it was a sophomore—pitcher Mari Takeda Bajan—that was squarely in the spotlight, twirling a one-hit shutout in the twin bill's nightcap to help the 'Cats edge the Gators 1-0, split the doubleheader (San Francisco won the opener 2-1), and the series to keep Chico State's postseason hopes alive.
Chico State ends the weekend 20-23 on the season and alone in seventh place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 13-17 conference record. With four regular season games remaining, the Wildcats are one game behind San Francisco State (26-20, 14-16 CCAA) and one game ahead of eighth place Cal Poly Humboldt (24-25, 12-18 CCAA) in the battle for the sixth and final CCAA Tournament berth. The 'Cats will need to do considerable damage next weekend in Hayward against Cal State East Bay, and hope for some help as the Gators host Cal State San Bernardino and Humboldt finishes the season at home against Cal State Monterey Bay.
The offense for the Wildcats was in short supply Saturday, but outstanding pitching—not just Takeda Bajan, but also Katelyn Oldwin and Amelie Valdez—kept Chico State in both contests. Anastacia Alba accounted for three of the 'Cats' seven total hits on the day.
The first game of Saturday's doubleheader pitted Oldwin in the pitcher's circle against Brooklyn Heffernan of the Gators. The two righthanders traded zeroes through the first three innings, but in the top of the fourth, San Francisco State broke the seal when Kai DeLeon led off with a triple and scored on a Marley Gonzales sacrifice fly. The next batter, Danielle Guerrera, made it a 2-0 game when she launched a home run that easily cleared the left field fence.
Heffernan, who tossed a four-hit shutout in Friday's series opener, held Chico State scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning. Alba led off the frame with a double and advanced to third base on a single by Hannah Levy. With Oldwin at the plate, Heffernan had the ball slip out of her hand as she started her pitching delivery, and with the ball rolling behind her, Alba came in to score. But it would be all the Wildcats would get, as they stranded the potential tying run at second base to end the sixth and then went down in order in the bottom of the seventh, giving San Francisco State the 2-1 win.
In game two, the 'Cats scored what turned out to be the only run of the contest in the bottom of the second inning. Takeda Bajan and Ashley Rocha led off the frame with back-to-back singles, and two batters later Brianna Swihart reached on a Gators error to load the bases. Rachael Bles followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, chasing home Takeda Bajan and putting Chico State on top 1-0.
In the top of the third, San Francisco State mounted its only real scoring threat. But with two on and one out, Takeda Bajan became literally untouchable, getting two quick outs to quell the would-be rally, and then proceeded to set down the Gators in order in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. All told, Takeda Bajan retired the final 14 batters she faced, locking down the Wildcats' 1-0 victory as well as the doubleheader and series split.
Takeda Bajan struck out five in notching her first shutout of the year while raising her season record to 6-5.
Chico State and Cal State East Bay conclude regular season play next Friday and Saturday with a four-game series beginning with a Friday doubleheader at 1 p.m., followed by a Saturday twin bill starting at 11 a.m.
