Sonoma State Defeats Chico State to Capture CCAA Tournament Title
CHICO, Calif. – Behind stellar relief pitching from Matt Garnett and home runs by Travis Babin and Ian Bridges, Sonoma State powered its way to a 7-4 victory over Chico State to capture the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament championship Saturday afternoon at Nettleton Stadium.
The win marks the second consecutive CCAA Tournament title for the Seawolves (45-13), who had to battle back from the loser’s bracket, and secures and automatic berth to the NCAA Championships. The 64-team field will be announced on Sunday.
After falling to Chico State Friday afternoon, Sonoma State came back to post an extra-inning, come-from-behind win over Cal State Stanislaus Friday night and defeated the Wildcats twice on Saturday to claim the conference-record fifth CCAA Tournament crown.
Earlier, in the day, the Seawolves were down to their last out before rallying for a 4-3 victory and forcing the decisive game.
Garnett (4-0) relieved starter Nick O’Brien with one out in the fourth inning and the game tied 4-4. He went on to pitch 5 2/3 innings, allowing two hits, three walks and striking out two.
Bridges, who was named to the all-tournament team, broke the 4-4 tie with a home to left-center field to open the fifth inning against Chico State starter Kyle Gibson (1-3). Konrad Thieme followed with a double to right field, advanced to third on an infield out and scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Mark Pestorich that gave the Seawolves a 6-4 lead.
Sonoma State added an insurance run in the seventh after Bridges opened the frame with a double down the left field line, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Thieme’s sacrifice fly to right.
Both teams scored twice in the first inning and the Seawolves went ahead 4-2 in the fourth on a two-run home run to right center field by tournament Most Valuable Player Travis Babin against Gibson.
The home run was the third in three games for Babin, who had not homered all season.
Chico State battled back to tie the score, 4-4, in the bottom half of the inning against O’Brien. Catcher Cody Dee snapped a 0-for-28 slump with a one-out home run to right field.
Travis DeCoito and Kyle Eveland followed with singles and DeCoito scored the tying run when Joey Burke reached on a fielder’s choice.
Sonoma State completed a whirlwind 24 hours as it played a total of 38 innings that included an 11-inning, four-hour, 31-minute game against Cal State Stanislaus that did not end until after 11:30 p.m. on Friday.
The Seawolves were back at Nettleton Stadium before noon on Saturday and had to post a second consecutive come-from behind win. Sonoma State rallied from a 6-1 deficit to defeat Cal State Stanislaus on Friday before coming back to top Chico State in the first game.
Thieme led the Seawolves with three hits, scored twice and had two RBI, while Nick Nosti, Bridges, Pestorich and Babin had two hits apiece. Dodos and Eveland had two hits each for Chico State.
All-Tournament Team
Catcher: Konrad Thieme (Sonoma State)
First Base: Ian Bridges (Sonoma State)
Second Base: Travis DeCoito (Chico State)
Third Base: Travis Babin (Sonoma State)
Shortstop: Kyle Eveland (Chico State)
Left Field: Nick Nosti (Sonoma State)
Center Field: Klye Loretelli (Cal State Stanislaus)
Right Field: Jimmy Dodos (Chico State)
Designated Hitter: Josh Meagher (Chico State)
Pitcher: Mike Robbins (Chico State)
Pitcher: Matt Garnett (Sonoma State)
Most Outstanding Player: Travis Babin (Sonoma State)