CARSON—As the tournament's No. 6 seed, the Chico State softball team entered the 2023 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament a decided underdog. Just to get the final berth in the postseason tourney, the Wildcats had to win four of their last five regular season games. But that surge of momentum has carried over into the postseason, much to the dismay of Cal State San Marcos. The 'Cats used a four-run fourth inning Wednesday to upend—and eliminate—the No. 3 Cougars 5-2 in the CCAA Tournament opener at Toro Diamond in Carson.
 
The win squared Chico State's season record at 24-24, but more importantly kept the Wildcats' season alive, with a chance to win the CCAA Tournament title, and with it the conference's automatic bid in the upcoming NCAA Championship Tournament.
 
Chico State collected seven hits in the winning effort. Grace Stover and Mia Santos had two hits apiece for the victorious 'Cats, who now go on to face the CCAA Tournament's top seed, Sonoma State, Thursday at 10:30 a.m. as the tourney begins double elimination play.
 
Fans 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.
 
Cal State San Marcos opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, cashing in a leadoff walk with a two-out RBI double off the bat of Mackenzie Kestler. Chico State answered in the top of the third—Santos reached on an infield single, was wild pitched to second, and scored on Anastacia Alba's two-out single up the middle.
 
The Wildcats took their first lead of the game in the top of the fourth inning, and they did it in a big way. With one out, Hailey Seva was hit by a pitch, Lanie Blomquist walked, and Rachael Bles singled to load the bases. Santos then flared a single to left to knock in Seva, and when outfielder Morgan Salgado bobbled the ball, Blomquist scored on the play to put the 'Cats in front 3-1. Tayler Berens followed with a base hit to center field, chasing home Bles and Santos to up Chico State's advantage to 5-1.
 
Kestler led off the San Marcos fifth inning with a home run to right-center field, pulling the Cougars to within 5-2. Wildcats head coach Angel Shamblin elected to go to the bullpen, with Katelyn Oldwin inheriting the pitcher's circle.
 
The sophomore righthander turned in an absolute superb performance, retiring three straight batters to end the fifth, tossing a 1-2-3 sixth inning, and setting down San Marcos in order in the bottom of the seventh—striking out Kestler to end it—to give Chico State the 5-2 victory and moving the 'Cats into the second day of CCAA Tournament competition.
 
Amelie Valdez tossed the first four-plus innings to get credit for the win, evening her season record at 9-9, while Oldwin posted her first save of the year.
 
2023 CCAA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
May 3–6, Toro Diamond, Carson
Hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills
 
Wednesday, May 3 — first round single elimination games
Game 1: No. 6 Chico State 5, No. 3 Cal State San Marcos 2 (San Marcos eliminated)
Game 2: No. 4 Cal State Dominguez Hills 8, No. 5 Cal State Monterey Bay 3 (Monterey Bay eliminated)
(No. 1 seed Sonoma State and No. 2 seed Cal State San Bernardino had first round byes)
 
Thursday, May 4 (four remaining teams re-seeded/double elimination)
Game 3: No. 1 Sonoma State (34-11) vs. No. 4 Chico State (24-24), 10:30 a.m.
Game 4: No. 2 Cal State San Bernardino (31-18) vs. No. 3 Cal State Dominguez Hills (31-16), 1 p.m.
Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. loser of Game 4 loser (elimination game), 3:30 p.m.
 
Friday, May 5
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. winner of Game 4, 12 p.m.
Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. loser of Game 6 (elimination game), 2:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, May 6
Game 8: Winner of Game 6 vs. winner vs. Game 7, 12 p.m.
Game 9: If necessary, 30 minutes after conclusion of Game 8