LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Rocco Borrelli set the tone with seven shutout innings in game one, and Chico State split Saturday's doubleheader with Cal State LA at Reeder Field, rolling to a 4–0 win before falling 4–2 in the nightcap.
With the split, Chico State moves to 16-17 overall and 5-10 in the CCAA, while Cal State LA improves to 17-15 overall and 7-8 in conference play.
Game 1 – Chico State 4, Cal State LA 0
Borrelli was sharp from the outset in the opener, scattering seven hits over seven scoreless frames while striking out seven and walking just one. The senior right-hander repeatedly worked around traffic and kept the Golden Eagles from ever finding the big hit, helping the Wildcats secure their third shutout victory of the season.
Chico State grabbed the lead in the second inning when Cole Nachreiner doubled down the right field line and came home on Roman Roberts' RBI double to right. The Wildcats added another run in the third, capitalizing on a Cal State LA error before Nachreiner brought home an unearned run with a sacrifice bunt.
The Wildcats created more separation in the fourth. Jaylen Hodges singled to open the inning and later scored on Brady Wright's RBI groundout, while Ryan Melton came home on a wild pitch to stretch the lead to 4–0.
Cal State LA threatened a few times against Borrelli, including a second-inning chance with runners at the corners and one out, but Chico State's starter answered with back-to-back strikeouts to escape the jam. Nathan Hikes and Manny Lopez closed out the shutout from there, with Lopez striking out one in a perfect ninth.
Hodges led Chico State in game one with two hits, while Nachreiner and Roberts each drove in a run as the Wildcats used timely execution and pressure baseball to take the opener.
Game 2 – Cal State LA 4, Chico State 2
In the nightcap, Chico State answered early after Cal State LA scored in the bottom of the second. Carson Case worked a leadoff walk in the third, Kobe Rolling ripped an RBI triple down the right field line, and Melton followed with a run-scoring single through the right side to put the Wildcats in front 2–1.
The lead did not last long. Cal State LA responded with four hits in the bottom half of the third, turning a one-run deficit into a 4–2 advantage. Ben Lee doubled home the tying threat, Omar Gonzalez delivered a two-run single to left, and Ethan Gonzalez added a sacrifice fly to cap the three-run inning.
Thomas Meyer took the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings. Aaron McCurley settled things down impressively out of the bullpen, limiting the Golden Eagles to one hit over the final 3.2 innings while striking out three and keeping Chico State within striking distance.
The Wildcats had chances late but could not break through. They put two runners aboard in the fifth but came away empty, then advanced the tying run into scoring position in the sixth before a strikeout ended the inning. Freshman Jacob Badillo closed the door in the seventh with a pair of strikeouts to earn the save.
Nachreiner went 2-for-2 with a walk in game two, while Rolling scored once and drove in a run with his third-inning triple. Melton added the Wildcats' other RBI, but Chico State managed just five hits and struck out seven times in the 7-inning loss.
Wildcat Tidbits
– With the split, Chico State still leads the all-time series with Cal State LA, 65-40-1, dating back to 1995. Neither team has won consecutive games since 2024, when the Wildcats won three straight against the Golden Eagles.
– The Wildcats' shutout victory in game one of the doubleheader is the third time this season.
– Dave Taylor, in his 20th season, is 605-357-0 as the head coach at Chico State. Taylor is also 720-451-1 in 24 years as an NCAA head coach.
Up Next
Chico State and Cal State LA wrap up the four-game CCAA series Sunday at noon.
