CHICO – Nettleton Stadium might have been chilly Thursday afternoon, but no rain dropped as Chico State opened the 2024 season with a doubleheader wins over Montana State Billings. The Wildcats slugged their way to a 14-2 win in game one while in game two they rode behind Ethan Lay's eight-strikeout performance to take game two, 3-1.
Despite the temperature floating around 40 degrees most of the day, it didn't stop the bats as the two games saw a total of 32 hits combined.
Game 1 – CHICO 14, MSUB 2
With practically new faces in head coach Dave Taylor's lineup, the Wildcats had a quiet first inning but broke through in the second and third innings. Starting with the second, Stefan Foley led off with a walk and after a 11-pitch battle, including flirting with a 1-2 count in the first eight throws, Daniel Vierra was rewarded with his good at-bat with a two-run home run to left.
One inning later, Neko Capsaliaris and Troy Kent opened with back-to-back singles up the middle and scored on Foley's double down the left field line. Jeremy Keller, the lone returner to be featured in Taylor's batting order, knocked in Foley with an RBI single up the middle, Elijah Pascual kept the momentum going with a base hit to center field and Alexander Johnson followed with a double to score in Keller for a 6-0 Chico State lead.
Though the Yellowjackets got on the board in the fourth inning with a solo home run, the 'Cats got that six-run lead back in the fifth. Keller hit a two-out double, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Johnson's single.
Three runs were plated for Chico State in the sixth inning. Michael Baker led off with a walk and took second on a fielding error that allowed Capaliaris to reach base as well. Kent walked to load the bases. With Foley at the plate, a throwing error allowed Baker and Capsaliaris to score two unearned runs. Vierra hit into a double play that allowed Kent to score from third and extend the Wildcats' lead to 10-1.
Chico State tacked in four more runs in the eighth, two of which were driven in on bases-loaded walks.
Kevin Lyons, one of Taylor's few returners, was given the starting nod, throwing five innings allowing just the lone run on five hits and a walk while striking out six. Marco Ibarra threw two shutout innings of relief while Joseph Loubert and Patrick Barnum each threw an inning to go the rest of the way.
Chico State logged in 11 hits while Montana State Billings had 10.
Game 2 – CHICO 3, MSUB 1
The returner Lay was given the ball for game two and went from start to finish. He struck out eight batters and gave up the one run in the sixth inning. He conceded four hits but, on a positive note, he didn't issue a walk.
After two silent innings, the Wildcats broke the ice in the third. Pascual reached on an error to lead off the inning, took second on Johnson's single, reached third on Thade Miller's fielder's choice and scored on Baker's RBI single down the first base line.
It was the fifth inning that the difference maker happened. Miller led off with a single and a failed pickoff attempt put him in scoring position. Capsaliaris knocked him home with a single through a hole on the right side.
The Yellowjackets got on the board in the sixth inning using a single, a double and a wild pitch. The Wildcats got that insurance run back in their half of the inning. Foley led off with a single, Andrew Crane came in and pinch ran for him. Crane took second on Vierra's successful sacrifice bunt, took third on a passed ball and scored on Casey Vogan's single up the middle.
Chico State recorded seven hits in the ball game, Montana State Billings had four.
The two teams close out the three-game series Friday at 2 p.m.
