CHICO – The Chico State softball team stumbled Friday in the doubleheader opener of its four game series with California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) leader Sonoma State, letting a four-run lead slip away in the first game to fall 7-5, then managing just three hits in the nightcap as the visiting Seawolves posted a 4-0 victory in afternoon action at University Softball Field.
The twin setbacks extended Chico State’s current losing streak to three straight, as the Wildcats slipped to 11-11 on the season and 8-10 in the CCAA. Sonoma State pushed its winning streak to five in a row, improving to 20-5 overall and 15-3 in conference play.
The Seawolves jumped out to a 1-0 lead in Friday’s doubleheader opener, taking advantage of two hit batters, a walk and a two-out RBI single by Kayla Ledford in the top of the first inning. Chico State tied the game in the bottom of the second on a bases loaded walk to Charlotte Honciano, then later in the inning Jenna Wermes scored when Sam Quadt reached on an error, putting the ’Cats in front 2-1. Chico State went up 5-1 with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning – Bec Johnson and Courtney Brock providing the key blows with an RBI single and double, respectively. Sonoma State – the top hitting team in the CCAA – roared back in the top of the fifth, using run-scoring singles by Ledford and Skylynn Myers and back-to-back bases loaded hit-by-pitches to plate four runs and knot up the contest at five apiece. It stayed that way until the top of the seventh inning, when, with a runner aboard, the Seawolves’ Janelle Arnold lined a home run to left field off Wildcat reliever Caitlin Byrne to put Sonoma State back in front, 7-5. Chico State was able to get the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but Seawolves pitcher Julianne Martinez got Christina Wieck to ground into a game-ending double play to seal the Sonoma State victory. Martinez (9-3) went the distance to get the win, with Byrne (2-1) getting charged with the loss. Rachel Failla had two of the Wildcats’ seven hits in the game.
BOX SCORE - Game One
Chico State could not get anything going offensively in the nightcap against Seawolves’ pitcher Samantha Lipperd, while Sonoma State wasted little time staking her to a lead. A first inning RBI single by Ali Palermo got the Seawolves on the scoreboard, then in the second LeeAnn Stroud singled home Rochelle Vanyi to make the score 2-0. Wildcats starter Kacie McCarthy kept Sonoma State quiet until the top of the fifth inning, when a walk, double and single produced two more runs and pushed the Seawolves advantage to 4-0. Chico State threatened in the bottom of the sixth, getting two aboard with one out, but Lipperd retired the next two hitters to get out of the jam and keep the shutout intact. In the seventh, the ’Cats hit into another game-ending double play, giving Sonoma State the 4-0 victory and the doubleheader sweep. Lipperd tossed her second shutout of the year to raise her record to 11-1; McCarthy tossed a complete game for the ’Cats but saw her record fall to 5-7 on the season. Of the Wildcats’ three hits in the nightcap, Sam Quadt contributed a double, and Honciano’s first inning single extended her hitting streak to five straight.
BOX SCORE - Game Two
Chico State and Sonoma State conclude the series with another doubleheader on Saturday, with the first game scheduled for noon at University Softball Field.