CHICO - The first pair of conference games against the Seawolves was a rough outing offensively for the Wildcats, but Saturday was an entirely different picture. Chico State secured the day's first win with a 5-0 shutout and finished the doubleheader 6-1.
With the series split, the Wildcats captured their fourth and fifth conference wins, improving to 5-11 in CCAA play.
The different maker in today's sweep was a strong outing by the Wildcats pitching staff, Amelie Valdez and Katelyn Oldwin having a field day with the Seawolves at the plate. Valdez pitched a complete game and only gave up a single hit against the Seawolves, retiring five batters and only walking three.
Oldwin only gave up a single earned run in game two, retiring six and walking four. Despite giving up five hits, Oldwin's pitching managed to minimize any threat from Sonoma State, earning her second win of the season in the circle.
Freshman Lilly Cante had a stellar performance on Saturday, recording three RBIs on three hits. In game two, Cante drove the lead run in with a single up the middle of the Seawolves defense, and a two run double down the left line to triple the Wildcats lead in game one.
Leading off for the Wildcats and playing a pivotal role in rallying to steal the lead in game two, Taylor Berens, who is batting .389 this season, came up clutch, getting on base in the bottom of the fifth and setting herself up to score position and tying the game.
After a pitching change from the Seawolves, the runs started flowing in, with Cante starting the spree with her single to drive Berens home. Hannah Levy and Ali Lewis reached base on successive walks to fill the bases for the 'Cats, Elisa Haas stepping up the plate and barreling a single to right field that bounced off the right fielder's glove and rolled to the fence. The error in the outfield allowed three runs to run home and gave the 'Cats their 6-1 lead late into the final game.
Oldwin proceeded to strike out three Seawolves across the final two innings, replaced by Sophia Tassanari, who faced the final batter, forcing an out to the shortstop Haas, who secured their fifth conference win of the season.
Ashley Rocha and Brianna Swihart both recorded two hits in the second game.
The Wildcats will take a short break and pause their conference schedule as they prepare for the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, kicking off on March 22nd. Chico State is slated to start the five-game stretch against Academy of Art, who they've played earlier in the season, falling 1-6 to the Urban Knights in their last outing.
