CARSON—Chico State may not be the best team competing in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament, but they are definitely the hottest team—just ask any of the two higher-seeded squads that have fallen victim to the suddenly-sizzling Wildcats. After downing No. 3 Cal State San Marcos Wednesday, the 'Cats—the lowest seed in the six-team tourney—came up big again during Thursday's second round action, shutting out No. 1 Sonoma State 3-0 at Toro Diamond in Carson.
 
Chico State upped its season record to 25-24 with Thursday's win, and advances to Friday's CCAA Tournament play, when they take on Cal State Dominguez Hills at 12 noon. If the Wildcats beat the Toros, they will then have two chances to win one game Saturday to capture the tournament crown and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament.
 
Grace Stover had three of the Wildcats' six hits on the day, with Anastacia Alba, Rachael Bles, and Hailey Seva each putting a hashmark in the hit column.
 
Chico State took the early lead, putting up a crooked number in the top of the first. Tayler Berens led off the inning with a walk, then moved to second base on an Alba single. Stover promptly lined a base hit to center to chase home Berens and put the Wildcats on the board. The inning continued with Mari Takeda Bajan drawing a free pass to load the bases. Bles followed with a single to right field to drive in Alba, and with Seva at the plate, Takeda Bajan scored from third base on a wild pitch, pushing the Wildcats' advantage to 3-0.
 
Chico State starting pitcher Amelie Valdez kept the hard-hitting Sonoma State offense quiet, allowing just one hit over four shutout innings, but the freshman righthander ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth. A leadoff hit by pitch and an infield single put Seawolves at first and second with nobody out. As she did Thursday, Wildcats head coach Angel Shamblin elected to go to the bullpen, and it was a move that once again paid off. Katelyn Oldwin entered the pitcher's circle for the 'Cats, got two quick outs, then after walking CCAA Most Valuable Player Anna Zoia-Buescher to load the bases, got All-CCAA outfielder Rylee Nishimoto to ground out to Bles at short to end the inning and maintain Chico State's 3-0 lead.
 
Oldwin pitched around a one-out single in the sixth inning, but in the bottom of the seventh Sonoma State threatened again, stringing together a pair of two-out singles to bring Zoia-Buescher to the plate representing the tying run. Takeda Bajan came on in relief and got Zoia-Buescher to hit into a force play to end it, cementing the Wildcats' 3-0 victory.
 
Valdez got credit for the win to earn her 10th win of the year, with Takeda Bajan chalking up her fifth save of the season.
 
 
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. 4 Chico State 3, No. 1 Sonoma State 0
Game 4: No. 3 Cal State Dominguez Hills 9, No. 2 Cal State San Bernardino 3
Game 5: Sonoma State 6, Cal State San Bernardino 5 (8 innings) (San Bernardino eliminated)
 
Friday, May 5
Game 6: Chico State vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills, 12 p.m.
Game 7: Sonoma State 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