TURLOCK – The Chico State baseball team almost reached two marks it hadn't seen in 26 years as the Wildcats tallied 22 hits and 11 walks to blow out Stanislaus State 26-4 to open the CCAA series at Warrior Baseball Field Friday evening.
 
The Wildcats (9-5, 4-5 CCAA) came up just short of reaching the single-game marks of 28 runs scored and 25 hits, both set in the 1997 national championship team as well as the 1998 regional championship team. Chico State also caught its single-game record for walks in a nine-inning game, which was 13 set in the 2022 season.
 
Although the Wildcats recorded 22 hits, it wasn't quite a slugfest as only six were for extra bases, including a solo home run from Stefan Foley in the second inning and a grand slam by Andrew Crane in his second plate appearance in the ninth.
 
Thirteen different batters reached base with their bats. It was a big day for Alexander Johnson and his replacement Crane as the seventh spot of the lineup generated eight RBIs. Johnson had a three-hit night and knocked in a run in four of his plate appearances.
 
Chico State did all the damage early in the game, scoring six runs in the first inning, four in the second and three in the third inning. The Wildcats were quiet in the middle innings but added five runs in the seventh followed by eight more in the ninth.
 
While the offense did all the work it needed to win the game, head coach Dave Taylor sent four pitchers to the mound. Nolan Meredith got the start and threw three innings allowing just a run on five hits and a walk, Christian Dijkman, Caden Reitzenstein and James Courshon each had two innings of work. Reitzenstein picked up the win after his shutout performance with three hits and four strikeouts.
 
The Warriors (7-8, 4-5 CCAA) recorded 14 hits tonight, scoring one run in the second and three in the fifth.
 
The series continues Saturday with the 9/7-inning doubleheader. Game one first pitch is at 1 p.m.