ROHNERT PARK – On the heels of Friday’s career 11-strikeout performance, Kacie McCarthy fired a one hit shutout and Chico State used a five run fifth inning to break open a tight contest and defeat No. 2 seed Sonoma State 7-0 Saturday in the second round of the NCAA West Regional at Seawolf Field in Rohnert Park. The victory propels the Wildcat softball team into Sunday’s championship round, where it will have two chances to win one game to move on to next week’s West Super Regional.
Saturday’s win – Chico State’s second straight and third in postseason play – improved the Wildcats’ overall record to 31-19. The ’Cats, the No. 6 seed in the West Regional, have now scored back-to-back victories over nationally ranked Grand Canyon (No. 15) and Sonoma State (No. 14). The Seawolves dropped to 43-17 on the year with Saturday’s loss.
Chico State led the entire way, and got on the board just three pitches into its first at-bat – after Kacie McCarthy retired the Seawolves in order in the top of the first, Honciano led off the bottom of the inning with her fourth home run of the year, a bomb over the left field fence to give the ’Cats a quick 1-0 lead. The homer was Honciano’s 62nd hit of the year, setting a new Chico State single season record.
Sonoma State’s only real threat came in the top of the third. The Seawolves, who scored seven runs in the sixth inning Friday to stun Dixie State 7-6 in opening round action, loaded the bases against the Wildcats Saturday with nobody out. McCarthy responded by striking out Simone Brandalise and getting Rochelle Vanyi to ground into a force play at the plate. McCarthy then locked horns with Ashley Britton in an epic mano-a-mano battle that comprised 13 pitches and seven two-strike fouls…McCarthy finally got Britton to ground out to third to end the inning and keep Chico State in front, 1-0.
McCarthy and Seawolves pitcher Samantha Lipperd matched each other zero for zero in the game’s middle innings; Skylynn Myers’ clean single to left in the top of the fourth would turn out to be the only hit McCarthy would allow all day. In the bottom of the fifth, though, the Wildcat blew the game open, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring five times. Minch led off the inning with an infield single and scored all the way from first when Christine Johnson’s sacrifice bunt was thrown into center field by Britton…Johnson ending up at third on the miscue. Quadt promptly knocked her in with a sacrifice fly to left to extend the ’Cats advantage to 3-0. But Chico State wasn’t done – back-to-back singles by Courtney Brock and Jenna Wermes plus a walk to Bec Johnson loaded the bases; Brock would come home when Lipperd was called for an illegal pitch. Rachel Failla followed with a two-run single to make it a 6-0 ballgame.
The Wildcats tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth inning – singles by Quadt and Christine Johnson and a walk to Brock loaded the bases, with Johnson scoring from third on a double play grounder. McCarthy, now staked to a 7-0 lead, easily retired Sonoma State in order in the top of the seventh to lock down the complete game victory and send Chico State to Sunday’s West Regional championship game.
McCarthy (15-10) struck out four in earning the win and notching her sixth shutout and 17th complete game of the season…though allowing just one earned run, Lipperd (21-8) took the loss for Sonoma State. Chico State piled up eight hits in the victory, with Jessie Minch going 2-for-3; both of her hits coming in the Wildcats’ five run fifth inning.
BOX SCORE
Chico State’s opponent in the West Regional championship game is Dixie State University. The Red Storm, 39-13 on the year, eliminated both Grand Canyon University 3-2 and Sonoma State 8-0 Saturday to earn the right to play the Wildcats Sunday. The two teams met once earlier this season, with Chico State coming away with a 4-2 victory March 26 during the Mizuno Tournament of Champions. The Wildcats and Dixie State will face off at 11 a.m. Sunday; a Chico State win will wrap up the West Regional crown. If the ’Cats lose, they will get a second chance to secure the championship against the Red Storm Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
