The Chico State softball team officially opened its 2026 season beginning on Jan. 30 with a five-game tournament.
The ’Cats finished the weekend with a 2–3 overall record, gaining valuable early-season experience against strong non-conference opponents.
The season opener featured two games on Friday, two on Saturday, and a final matchup on Sunday. The weekend served as the team’s first opportunity to compete together, setting the tone for the rest of the season.
Friday’s doubleheader marked the team’s first action of the year, as they took the field with a mix of returning players and new faces.
The ’Cats opened its season with a 2–1 victory over Azusa Pacific, securing its first win of the year in a tightly contested matchup. Brianna Swihart and Ali Lewis hit back-to-back deep in-field in the fifth to load the bases.
Later, the ’Cats challenged Western Washington, who’s nationally ranked third. ’Cats fought hard, even going into extra innings and yet fell 2-1 with the Vikings winning in the end.
Saturday brought another pair of back-to-back games, testing the team’s endurance early in the season. The ’Cats responded with a 1–0 shutout win over Chaminade, showcasing strong defensive execution and pitching. Tiana Johnson stole the spotlight, hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning which later led to the teams victory.
The ’Cats showed resilience in a hard-fought 3-2 battle with Colorado State Pueblo. Chico State pushed late with a seventh-inning rally but the comeback fell just short.
The second day of the tournament saw the team improve in execution and overall energy levels throughout the day. The tournament came to a close on Sunday but the team had one final test: staying focused after a long weekend. The physicality of the tournament schedule did not deter the ’Cats from completing the season-opening tournament strong.
Despite the physical demands of the schedule, the ’Cats showed improved execution and consistent energy throughout the second day of competition.
One aspect that stood out early in the season showed during the weekend’s tight defensive performances, highlighting the team’s ability to compete in close games.
The tournament concluded on Sunday with a final test of focus and resilience.
The ’Cats faced Vanguard University and suffered a 10–2 loss, closing out the weekend after five games in three days. While the final result was not in the the ’Cats favor, the physicality of the tournament did not deter the team from continuing to compete.
Looking ahead, the ’Cats are focused on building from the lessons learned during opening weekend.
After five games, the ’Cats gained a clear look at where they stand early on in the season. The weekend highlighted the team’s strength and revealed areas of growth the team will need to improve as the season progresses.
With the season officially underway, the ’Cats are expected to continue improving as the team prepares for the upcoming stretch of games.
The ’Cats play a doubleheader at the Wildcat Softball Field on Friday at noon and 2:30 p.m. against the Jessup Warriors.
For information about all Chico State athletics or to keep up with the game live, visit the Wildcat home page, or watch through FloSports.
Note: Aiyana Curry is the sports editor for The Orion. She did not take part in the editorial process for this article.
Merri Shiger can be reached at [email protected]
