IRVINE, Calif. – Chico State softball closed out the CUI Kickoff Classic on Sunday morning with a matchup against Vanguard, but the Wildcats were unable to keep pace with the Lions' offense, falling 10–2 in the weekend finale.
Chico State struck first in the opening inning, as Brianna Swihart singled into center field to drive in two runs and give the Wildcats an early advantage.
Vanguard responded quickly, capitalizing on defensive miscues and timely hitting to seize control of the contest. Three Chico State errors contributed to unearned runs, and the Lions scored in bunches during the third and sixth innings to pull away.
Aiyana Curry led the Wildcats at the plate with a two-hit performance, while Italia Abrenica added a hit to round out the Chico State offense. Despite early momentum, the Wildcats were unable to string together sustained offense as Vanguard continued to apply pressure throughout the game.
The Wildcats close out their opening weekend at 2-3, with wins over Azusa Pacific and Chaminade.
Chico State returns home in the coming weeks to open its home schedule with a doubleheader against Jessup at Wildcat Softball Field. Dates and start times will be announced at a later time—visit the official schedule page for updates.
