CHICO, Calif. – Coming off an extra-inning defeat in the four-game series opener last night, the 19^th-ranked Chico State baseball team got quality starts from Rocco Borrelli and Jeremy Keller as the Wildcats took Friday's doubleheader against Cal State LA by a pair of 6-2 scores in perfect conditions at Nettleton Stadium.
 
The two wins benefited the Wildcats (25-15) as they are now tied for fourth place in the CCAA standings with the Golden Eagles (21-20) with identical 18-13 (.581) conference records.
 
Game 1 – CHICO 6, LA 2
Following a quiet first inning, Chico State did all the scoring it needed to win the game in the second inning. Keller, serving as the designated hitter in the first game, was hit by the pitch and Michael Baker singled that set up a three-run home run by Jesse Gadd to right field. Casias created an insurance policy in the fifth inning with a leadoff home run down the left field line.
 
Borrelli had one of the best outings in his Chico State career. The right hander did not allow a run across while striking out two, walking one and allowing five hits on 92 pitches before being pulled with one out in the sixth inning. Tyce Ochs took over and finished the game strong, striking out five and walking one batter. The Golden Eagles did get their runs scored in the eighth and ninth innings.
 
Golden Eagle starter Lino Zepeda also went six innings, striking out seven Wildcats and didn't walk a batter. He was tagged for all six runs scored.
 
The Wildcat offense got two more runs scored in the seventh inning. Brady Wright led off with a single, stole second and scored on Thade Miller's double to center field. Troy Kent knocked in Miller with a single to right field.
 
Miller, Kent and Baker each had two of the Wildcats' dozen hits. Cal State LA had nine hits.
 
Game 2 – CHICO, 6, LA 2
Now on the pitcher's mound, Keller got off to a promising start by putting a zero on the board in the first inning. The Wildcats offense, meanwhile, quickly went to work on Brandon Gutierrez. After Miller and Casias singled, they both stole bases while the catcher's throw to third in attempt to get Miller out at third was poorly thrown, allowing the Wildcats' leadoff man to score the game's first run. Kent brought Casias home from second when he hit a single down the right field line. After Baker hit into a fielder's choice, he stole second and scored on Daniel Vierra's single to left.
 
The Golden Eagles got two of those runs back in the second inning when they capitalized on an error to score two unearned runs against Keller. After the second inning, Keller found a groove and went on to only allow two hits, a pair of walks and a hit batsman through six innings. He collected two strikeouts as well.
 
Already up 4-2, the Wildcats earned two more runs across with two outs in the fifth inning. Ernie Arambula drew a walk and three straight singles from Wright, pinch-hitter Sean Pauly and Miller completed the 6-2 score.
 
Aaron McCurley rebounded from a difficult outing in Friday night's loss by pitching a shutout seventh inning.
 
Chico State went on to outhit Cal State LA 12-5.
 
The Wildcats and Golden Eagles wrap up the four-game series Saturday at 11 a.m.