CHICO, Calif. - The long and highly respected rivalry between the Chico State and Colorado Mesa baseball teams continued on in 2025 as the two met at Nettleton Stadium for a three-game non-conference series. In the series opener Friday, the Wildcats offense racked up 16 hits while Rocco Borrelli and Joseph Loubert highlighted the pitching in their 7-4 win over the Mavericks.
The Wildcats improve to 5-2 overall while the Mavericks, who entered the week ranked 10th in the nation according to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, fall to 2-2 on their second week in action.
Chico State and Colorado Mesa were originally schedule to play four games that was supposed to begin Thursday, but rain arrived in Chico as predicted and the two sides decided to play three games instead of four.
From the opening pitch, Chico State set the tone with Borrelli on the mound, contributing five solid innings and racking up six strikeouts with only one walk allowed. The Wildcats were the first ones to get runs across, scoring three runs in both the third and fourth innings, to take a 6-0 lead.
Thade Miller was a notable player in the game, going 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles, one of which knocked in a run in the sixth. He also hit safely in the third and fourth innings that eventually turned into runs. Jeremy Keller was another contributor at the plate, also recording three hits and knocking in three RBIs, including a two-run single in the fourth inning that completed the 6-0 lead early in the game.
The Mavericks attempted to rally in the sixth inning, adding three runs and narrowing the score to 6-4. However, relief pitcher Loubert halted their comeback by navigating a bases-loaded situation with a critical strikeout and a fly out to maintain the Wildcats' advantage. He finished the game with 3.2 shutout innings to earn his first save of the season.
Looking ahead, the Wildcats are set to face the Colorado Mesa again on Saturday in the 9/7-inning doubleheader at Nettleton Stadium. Game one is set to start at noon.
