CHICO, Calif. – Reigning CCAA Pitcher of the Week Marco Ibarra had another exceptional outing, but the Chico State offense left too many runners on base as Cal State LA snuck through 3-2 in 11 innings to force the Wildcats to settle a split in the CCAA series at Nettleton Stadium Saturday.
 
The loss drops Chico State to 25-16 overall and 18-14 (.562) in the CCAA. Cal State LA (22-20) breaks the fourth-place tie by improving to 19-13 (.594). The Wildcats have a two-win advantage over their next opponent, sixth-place Cal State San Marcos. The two will begin their conference series at Dennis A. Pugh Baseball Field Friday at 3 p.m.
 
Ibarra was once again brilliant in his outing against the Golden Eagles, striking out three through six innings.
 
Chico State broke the scoreless game in the third inning when Phoenix Casias singled and scored all the way from first on Michael Baker's triple to right. The Wildcats got their second run in the sixth inning. They had two runners in scoring position with nobody out but could only get the one run on a sacrifice fly by Thade Miller.
 
Although the Golden Eagles threatened to score first back in the opening inning, Ibarra got out of the jam and pitched solidly until the seventh inning. He gave up a leadoff walk and the catcher Brayan Nunez hit a two-run home run to tie the game and end Ibarra's day.
 
Cal State LA's left-handed reliever Ismael Quintero took over in the eighth and only Daniel Vierra was able to get on base with a two-out single in the 10^th.
 
Much like Thursday's series opener, the Golden Eagles broke the tie in the 11^th inning, coming up clutch on a two-out RBI single to score in the go-ahead run. Quintero retired the Wildcats to salvage the split.
 
The Wildcats recorded eight hits in the game but went a cold 0-for-7 with run scoring opportunities.
 
Cal State San Marcos returns home after splitting its CCAA series with Cal State Monterey Bay.