CHICO, Calif. - With a substantial series split under their belt in San Francisco against the nationally ranked Gators, the Wildcats welcomed Cal State San Bernardino to a home series at Wildcat Softball Field. A tough-fought battle in the first game fell to the visitors, but the bounce Cats were able to steal the second game to end Friday on a positive note.
 

With the split, the Chico State softball team extends their record to 19-13 overall and a solid 11-11 in conference play.

Game 1 | Chico 9, CSUSB 10

A game that saw a combined 25 hits tipped in favor of the Coyotes after the 'Cats could not take control in their final appearances at the plate. The hits and runs were traded each inning, but a handful of errors from the 'Cats gave the Coyotes a strong advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh.
 

Trailing by four runs, Chico State found a way to climb within a single run but came up short, falling 10-9 in the series opener. 
 

Aiyana Curry recorded the team's first grand slam of the year, clearing the bases with a shot that made it over the fences and into Nettleton Stadium in the second inning. Curry and Italia Abrenica recorded three hits on the day, with Kennedy Gustin, Gracie Dunning, and Hannah Levy all recording multi-hit games.

Game 2 | Chico 2, CSUSB 1

Kylie Loertscher pitched a complete game win with two strikeouts and only sacrificed a single run in the 2-1 win over the Coyotes.
 

Curry added another three hits on three appearances at the plate, but Brianna Swihart was the hero of game two with a double that drove in the tying and winning runs in the third inning. 
 

Gracie Dunning made an acrobatic diving catch in the seventh inning, making the double play assist at second base to put the pressure on the Coyotes with the game on the line. A quick play from shortstop to first base ended the game on the next at-bat, giving the 'Cats their first win of the series.