ROHNERT PARK – The Chico State softball team overcame three first inning runs by Grand Canyon University, and with Kacie McCarthy striking out a career-high 11 batters in a seven-and-a-third inning relief stint, Sam Quadt drove home Charlotte Honciano with the game-winner as the Wildcats edged the Antelopes 5-4 in extra innings Friday afternoon to win their NCAA West Regional opener at Seawolf Field on the campus of Sonoma State. The ’Cats now advance to the winner’s bracket and will face Sonoma State Saturday morning at 11 a.m. in the Regional’s second round. The game will be available via the Internet; click here for the online broadcast.
Chico State, now 30-19 on the year, took advantage of four Grand Canyon errors to set the stage for Quadt’s extra-inning dramatics. Things didn’t start well for the Wildcats, as they left the bases loaded in the top of the first inning; in the bottom of the first, starting pitcher Jessica McDermott’s four walks forced home an Antelope run and led to an early exit…then McCarthy surrendered a two-run single to Montana Lucas to put the Grand Canyon on top 3-0.
The Wildcats jumped on top with four runs in the top of the third inning – Quadt delivered a one-out single and Courtney Brock reached on an error by Antelopes third baseman Gayle Nisbet to put runners at second and third…Jenna Wermes got aboard when her sacrifice fly to center was dropped by Kara Holtorf, allowing Quadt to score to make it a 3-1 game. Bec Johnson promptly singled home Brock, taking second on the throw to the plate…Rachel Failla followed with a base hit to center, driving home Wermes and Johnson and giving Chico State a 4-3 lead.
McCarthy, meanwhile, held the heavy-hitting Grand Canyon offense in check, retiring nine of 10 at one point – seven by strikeout. The Wildcats still held its 4-3 advantage until the Antelopes broke through with the tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning, on a Lucas triple and a two-out RBI single by Nikki Lorenzi. Chico State stranded the potential go-ahead run at second base in the top of the seventh, and in the bottom of the inning it appeared Grand Canyon would pull out the victory, putting runners at second and third with nobody out. McCarthy stiffened, though, striking out Kelli Bridges, getting Tracy Lubken to ground out to third and fanning Lucas to keep the score knotted at four apiece and sending the game to extra innings.
The Wildcats pushed across what proved to be the winning run in the top of the eighth inning – Jessie Minch got aboard on Nisbet’s second error of the contest, but was forced at second on a Honciano fielder’s choice grounder. Honciano stole second base, and following a Christine Johnson flyout, Quadt came through with a line single to left…a spectacular slide at the plate by Honciano avoiding the tag of catcher C.J. Lorvell to put Chico State back on top. McCarthy retired Grand Canyon on three straight ground balls to lock down the 5-4 victory and beat the Antelopes – the 15th ranked team in the country – for the second time in as many tries this season.
McCarthy (14-10) earned the win, with Ivy Campas (23-6) suffering the loss despite not allowing an earned run. The Wildcats had seven hits on the day, with Quadt, Bec Johnson and Christine Johnson delivering two knocks apiece.
BOX SCORE
Chico State now takes on Sonoma State in second round action; the host Seawolves earned a date with the Wildcats by using a seven run sixth inning to down Dixie State 7-6 late Friday afternoon. Chico State and Sonoma State, who last tangled in the CCAA Championship Tournament May 1, will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s championship bracket.
