TURLOCK, Calif. – Chico State and Stanislaus State each used one big inning to seize control Saturday as the two Highway 99 rivals split their baseball doubleheader in the middle games of a four-game CCAA series at Warrior Baseball Field. The Wildcats rode a six-run fourth inning to a 13–1 win in game one before the Warriors answered with a five-run second inning and a four-run sixth to claim game two, 11–3.

With the split, Chico State goes to 20-21 overall and 9-14 in the CCAA. Stanislaus State improves to 18-21 overall and 9-13 in conference play, once again leaping over the Wildcats for seventh place in the CCAA standings by half of a game.

Game 1: Chico State 13, Stanislaus State 1
Chico State broke open the opener with a six-run fourth inning and never looked back, finishing with 17 hits in its most complete offensive performance of the weekend.

Taking advantage of three Stanislaus State errors in the inning, the Wildcats got RBI singles from Roman Roberts, Michael Baker, Brady Wright and Kobe Rolling, while Jared Cantu added a two-run double as Chico State surged in front 6–0.

The Wildcats added three more runs in the sixth, highlighted by Cantu's two-run home run to right center, then tacked on two runs in both the eighth and ninth innings to put the game out of reach.

Cantu led the offense by going 3-for-5 with five RBI, a double and a home run, while Wright delivered a perfect 5-for-5 performance with three runs scored and an RBI. Rolling added three hits and two RBI, and Baker chipped in two hits, two runs and an RBI.

On the mound, Rocco Borrelli was in control throughout, allowing just one run on three hits over seven innings while striking out five. Bruno Condit closed out the final two innings to secure the victory.

Game 2: Stanislaus State 11, Chico State 3
Chico State struck first again in the nightcap, but Stanislaus State answered immediately and took control with a five-run second inning that proved to be the difference.

After Jaden Neugebauer reached on an error and scored on Stefan Foley's RBI single in the first, the Warriors responded with four hits in the bottom half, including an RBI double from Chris Ortiz and an RBI single by Mason Kelley, to take a 2–1 lead.

Stanislaus State then broke the game open in the second inning. A leadoff home run from Chase Wilson, followed by an RBI bunt single, Ortiz's three-run homer down the left field line and additional base hits, extended the lead to 7–1.

The Wildcats chipped away with single runs in the third and fourth innings. Neugebauer scored on Jared Cantu's RBI double in the third, and Michael Baker came home in the fourth after advancing on a failed pickoff attempt to cut the deficit to 7–3.

However, the Warriors added four more runs in the sixth inning. Cameron Taylor delivered a two-run single, and AJ Carter followed with another two-run single to cap the scoring.

Ortiz finished 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI, while Lewis went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Kelley added two hits and an RBI, and Taylor drove in two.

Aaron McCurley took the loss for Chico State after allowing seven runs on 11 hits over five innings. Neugebauer led the Wildcats offensively in game two, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Foley and Cantu each drove in a run.

Wildcat Tidbits
– With the split, Chico State still leads the all-time series with Stanislaus State 144-74, dating back to their first meeting in 1968.
– Including the non-conference series at Nettleton Stadium back in February, the Wildcats and Warriors remained even in the season series at three games apiece. Seven games were scheduled between these Highway 99 rivals.
– Jaden Neugebauer closes out his day on an eight-game hitting streak while Stefan Foley and Michael Baker have run their respective hitting streaks to seven. In the last eight games, Neugebauer is 11-for-31 (.355) with a double and two RBI.
– Dave Taylor, in his 20th season, is 609-361-0 as the head coach at Chico State. Taylor is also 724-455-1 in 24 years as an NCAA head coach.

Up Next
Chico State will try to salvage a conference series split with Stanislaus State in the finale Sunday at noon.