CHICO, Calif. – The Chico State softball team put the finishing touches on the 2009 season Saturday, splitting a doubleheader against visiting Academy of Art University. Lauren Walker tossed a complete game four-hitter in the opener as the Wildcats posted a 5-1 victory, but in the nightcap Jessica McDermott was outdueled by Ericka Ames and the Urban Knights came away with a 2-1 win.
Game one of the double dip featured a Chico State milestone in the very first frame. Senior Gwen Cox led off the Wildcats’ half of the first inning with a walk and promptly stole second – her 26th swipe of the year breaking the Chico State single season stolen base record that had stood since 1995 (Cox would add another stolen base to her record-setting total later in the game). Ashley Roy’s RBI single gave Academy of Art a 1-0 lead in the top of third inning, but in the fourth the Wildcats took the lead for good – Charlotte Honciano singled home Christina Wieck to tie the score…Rachel Failla scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Sam Quadt…and Christine Johnson’s two-out infield single chased home Honciano to make it a 3-1 ballgame. Chico State put the contest away with two more runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Failla and Jenna Wermes. Walker did the rest, retiring the last five batters in succession to bring home the ’Cats 5-1 victory. Walker (10-16) notched her career single-season best 14th complete game to pick up the win; Academy of Art starter Sierrah Garcia (9-14) took the loss. Honciano went 2-for-3 to lead Chico State’s seven hit attack.
In the nightcap the Urban Knights did all their damage in the third inning…but they got plenty of help from the Wildcats. After McDermott set down the first seven batters she faced, a walk and two singles loaded the bases. Ashley Petty scored from third on a grounder to second when catcher Reina Andreatta mishandled Honciano’s throw to the plate…then McDermott walked Alana Aweau to force home Shelby LaFond to up the Academy of Art lead to 2-0. Chico State missed a pair of golden scoring opportunities early in the ballgame, but in the fifth the ’Cats sliced the Urban Knights lead in half when Jesse Minch singled home Cox to make it a 2-1 contest. In the bottom of the seventh Chico State got the potential tying run to second with only one out, but Ames got Cox to fly out to center and Minch to ground out to second to end the threat and give Academy of Art the 2-1 win and a split of the doubleheader. Ames (6-15) allowed just one unearned run in picking up the victory; McDermott (8-20) allowed just one earned run and tied her season high with seven strikeouts in going the distance, but suffered the hard-luck loss. Cox, playing her last game as a Wildcat, had two of Chico State’s five hits in the nightcap.
With the doubleheader split, the Wildcats finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 19-36 and a CCAA mark of 6-26. Academy of Art, also concluding its season, posted a 15-29 mark on the year.
GAME ONE - Box Score
GAME TWO - Box Score