Late-inning rallies net wins for both ’Cats and Coyotes in doubleheader split

By Rory Miller - Assistant Sports Information Director (rtmiller@csuchico.edu)

Chico State wins opener 2-1 before falling 4-3 in the nightcap

When two of the top 20 softball teams in all of Division II go head-to-head, it's almost a given that the battle will be nip-and-tuck all the way to the very last out. That's what fans at University Softball Field witnessed Friday when No. 6 Chico State and No. 19 Cal State San Bernardino locked horns in an important four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series. The two teams each won in dramatic fashion, pushing across the winning run in their final at-bats to split the opening doubleheader. The Wildcats took game one 2-1, with the Coyotes coming back in the nightcap to prevail 4-3.

Chico State moved to 15-4 on the season with the doubleheader split, but stayed a half-game behind CCAA-leading UC San Diego with a 13-3 conference record. Cal State San Bernardino improved to 10-3 overall and 7-3 in CCAA play.

Pitching dominated the day, with the Wildcats and Coyotes combining for just 16 hits over the two contests. Wendy Cardinali and Reilani Peleti each had two hits to pace a Chico State offense that produced only seven hits in 13 innings.

The opener of Friday's doubleheader was a good old-fashioned pitcher's duel between Brooke Larsen of the Wildcats and Amanda Ramirez of Cal State San Bernardino. The Coyotes struck quickly, plating a run in the top of the first inning when Morgan Ratliff led off with a base hit, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a Sydney Kreimann infield single.

Larsen proceeded to hold San Bernardino hitless for the rest of the game, striking out nine to keep Chico State in the contest. Ramirez, however, kept the 'Cats' bats in check, allowing just one baserunner (a third inning walk to Peleti) through the first five frames.

Peleti broke up the no-hit bid and started what turned out to the Wildcats' winning rally in the bottom of the sixth inning with a leadoff single through the left side. An error and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third, setting the stage for Cardinali, who ripped a single down the left field line to drive home Peleti and Amanda Metzger and put the 'Cats in front.

San Bernardino got the potential tying run in scoring position with two outs in the top of the seventh, but saw its comeback attempt foiled when Ari Marsh made an amazing over-the-shoulder snow cone catch of Jamiana Gateb's liner to right to end the game, giving Chico State the 2-1 win.

Larsen went the distance in the pitcher's circle for the seventh time this season to raise her record to 9-1.

Game two of the double dip saw the Wildcats jump out to a lead courtesy of a three-run second inning. Peleti led off with a booming home run to left—her second big fly of the year—to put Chico State on the board. Later in the frame Cardinali knocked in Metzger with a sacrifice fly to right, and Marsh followed with an RBI single to plate Breanna Martin to put the 'Cats up 3-0.

Chico State's offense fell silent, though, as Coyotes' lefty reliever Anissa Padilla held the Wildcats without a hit for four-and-two-thirds innings. San Bernardino cut into the deficit with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fourth, then tied the score with a run in the sixth.

The Coyotes took a 4-3 lead in the seventh when Nico Walker led off the frame with a triple and scored on a base hit by Haley Finn. Chico State looked as if it would answer in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with only one out. The rally fell short, however, as Bailey Akins struck out and Worley was immediately picked off third. The stunning double play gave San Bernardino the 4-3 win and the doubleheader split.