CARSON – The Chico State softball team's bat continue to put up respectable numbers in the hit column but the Wildcats couldn't cash in runs as they dropped two close decisions to Cal State Dominguez Hills, 4-1 in game one and 2-1 in game two, to wrap up the CCAA-opening series Saturday.
The Wildcats end the season-opening road trip 0-7 overall and 0-4 in the CCAA and they will hope by opening the home schedule against Cal State San Bernardino will turn the program around. The series begins Friday at noon.
Game 1 – CSUDH 4, CHICO 1
Chico State got on the board in quick fashion. Tayler Berens reached on an error to start the game, Mia Santos moved to into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Brianna Swihart knocked her in with a base hit to right field.
After Amelie Valdez retired the side in order to start her day, Chico State went back to work on Toros starter Mariah Ramirez. With two down and Elisa Haas at first, Berens singled through the left side and Santos drew a walk to load the bases, but Ramirez got a popout to leave the bases loaded.
Valdez retired six straight batters but got into trouble in the fourth inning and the Toros cashed in three unearned runs to take a 3-1 lead. Valdez gave up the fourth run in the sixth inning when her pitching opponent hit a solo home run to left.
The Wildcats had a seventh-inning rally started when Berens singled and Santos reached on an error with no outs. Ramirez stopped the threat by getting two popouts and a strikeout to end the game.
Berens finished the game going 2-for-3, Ali Lewis also had two hits while Valdez, despite taking the loss, struck out three and issued no walks.
Game 2 – CSUDH 2, CHICO 1
Much like game one, Berens got the Wildcats on the board only this time it was a game-opening home run to right center field.
The lead was very brief as the Toros responded with a run of their own in the first inning against Katelyn Oldwin as she gave up a one-out single and a stolen base to second eventually turned into a run on a two-out hit to center.
With one out in the second, Ali Lewis kept her hitting going with a double down the left field line. She was, however, stranded at second as Toro starter Lillianna Garcia got the next two outs on a groundout and a foul out.
Chico State had something cooking again in the third inning. Karlie Bilbrey led off with a walk, Berens picked up her fifth hit on the day to end Garcia's day in the circle. Going up Ashley Wies, the lone pitcher remaining from Dominguez Hills' 2022 national runner-up team, Santos drew a walk against her but the veteran got got the next three outs to leave the bases loaded.
It was still tied at one when Chico had a scoring chance in the fifth inning. Berens led off with another hit and got to second on another Santos sacrifice bunt. With two down, Lilly Cante singled to center field. Berens tried to score but was beaten by the throw home to end the inning.
The score remained tied until the seventh inning. Dominguez Hills got three singles in four at-bats to walk off the game.
While she had to take the loss, Oldwin was brilliant. Even though she conceded nine hits, she did strikeout six and not issuing any walks.
Berens went 3-for-4 to complete a five-hit day while Lewis had two more hits.
