CARSON, Calif. – Chico State softball split Friday's doubleheader against Cal State Dominguez Hills, opening with a narrow victory before dropping the second game to close out the series.

The Wildcats move to 10-14 in CCAA play, holding onto sixth place in the conference standings with two weekends remaining in the regular season. Chico State will need a strong finish and favorable results to earn a spot in the conference tournament for the first time since 2023.

Game 1: Chico State 1, CSUDH 0

Mia Santos provided the difference in a tightly contested game, delivering the game-winning hit in the sixth inning to secure Chico State's lone win of the series. Santos, recently returning to the lineup, singled to bring home the only run of the game—accounting for Chico State's lone hit in the contest.

Bella Tavares turned in a dominant complete-game performance, earning her sixth win of the season. The senior allowed no runs and recorded three strikeouts in the shutout effort. The Wildcats also delivered defensively, committing no errors in the win.

Game 2: Chico State 2, CSUDH 6

Chico State was unable to overcome an early deficit in the series finale, as the Toros jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Wildcats trimmed the deficit to one run in the fifth, but Cal State Dominguez Hills responded with a four-run inning to pull away.

Ali Lewis added to her team-leading home run total with a shot over the center-field fence, while Hannah Levy drove in another run in the sixth inning, bringing her RBI total for the series to four.

Chico State will have a bye next weekend before closing out the regular season with a road trip to Arcata on April 24 to face Cal Poly Humboldt. The Wildcats will look to make a final push for a top-five finish in the CCAA standings.