LOS ANGELES – It has taken 17 years, but Daniel Code has company.
Troy Kent recorded a hit in both games in Saturday's doubleheader to tie the Chico State baseball program-record of 22 consecutive games in the Wildcats blowout wins at Cal State LA.
The Wildcats (15-9, 10-9 CCAA) took game one 14-0 and the nightcap 15-3 to move ahead in the best-of-four series at Reeder Field.
It was an impressive day for Kent, who went 4-for-9 throughout the day with three home runs and six RBIs. The pitching corps, led by Kevin Lyons, were also solid as six hurlers combined for 13 strikeouts and limited only two walks.
Game 1 – CHICO 14, LA 0
For the second straight week, Chico State had to respond after the opposing team slugged them on the scoreboard. The Wildcats did so right away in the first inning against Dorsey Chatham.
Alexander Johnson started the game off with a walk and Kent, in his first attempt at the record, was hit by the pitch. Jeremy Keller drove in Johnson with a single up the middle and Daniel Vierra did the same thing to bring in two runs while taking second on the throw. With two down, Carson Stevens singled to send Vierra home and Ernie Arambula followed with an RBI double to center to give Chico a 5-0 lead.
The Wildcats got one more run in the second inning thanks to Kaden Bass's base running. He drew a leadoff walk, stole second and third, and scored when Vierra hit into a two-out error.
Getting another chance on the mound after a rough outing against Cal State San Marcos, Lyons took on the CCAA's second-best hitting team and was brilliant. After throwing 1.2 innings in his last start, the right-hander went on to throw seven solid innings against the Golden Eagles (13-12, 7-8 CCAA), striking out five while giving up eight hits and a walk.
Chico State got a run in both the fifth and sixth innings, it came up big in the the seventh with four runs. With one out, Bass singled and Kent followed with a big home run to the tall fence in right field. Keller came up to the plate right after and doubled down the left field line, setting up for another two-run shot by Vierra to give the Wildcats a 12-0 lead.
The eighth inning saw another slugging moment as Patrick Barnum and Johnson hit back-to-back inning-opening doubles. Johnson would score on back-to-back groundouts.
Nolan Meredith pitched two innings of relief, giving up only one hit in his outing.
Game 2 – CHICO 15, LA 3
Kent etched his name into the record book the first chance he got in the game. He hit a hard line drive past the first baseman and into right field to complete his 22-game hitting streak. Vierra followed with a walk and the two would score on Stefan Foley's two-run double to right center.
The scoring difference in the game was in the third inning, when the Wildcats scored six runs, five unearned. Bass reached on an error to start the inning and with one out, Vierra went opposite field to the tall fence in right field for a two-run home run. History seemed to repeat itself as the same situation happened in the inning. Foley reached on an error and Stevens went to opposite to right field for another two-run jack. Barnum continued the inning with a double down the left field line and scored on Arambula's single to right. Arambula would score the Wildcats' sixth run in the inning when Johnson tripled to center.
Ethan Lay had a good outing in the scheduled seven-inning game, throwing 4.2 and striking out five. The Golden Eagles, though, were able to break the scoring drought in the fifth inning using two doubles.
Although the Golden Eagles got two more runs in their half of the sixth, the Wildcat not only got those runs back but added three more in the seventh. With one out, pinch-hitter Ryan Blanchard doubled, and pinch-hitter Andrew Crane drew a walk. Elijah Pascual reached on an error but was credited with an RBI. Kent completed the 15-run score with a three-run home run to right.
The Wildcats will be seeking the series win in the finale Sunday at 11 a.m.
