The Chico State Wildcats’ softball team continues improving, beating the Stanislaus State Warriors three times in a four-game series.
Coming off their first series win against the San Bernardino Coyotes, the Wildcats looked to bring the momentum into the series against the Warriors.
The ’Cats’ took games one, three, and four with scores of 4-1, 4-1 and 4-0. The Warriors took game two with a score of 3-1, avoiding the sweep.
Game 1: March 27, 1 p.m.
Trying to get the early upper hand in the series, the ’Cats turned to senior right-handed pitcher Amelie Valdez.
Neither team got much offensive production early, as Valdez and the Warriors’ junior right-handed pitcher, Alexandria Himes, kept both offenses quiet.
The ’Cats had a chance early to score in the first inning when junior catcher Ali Lewis tripled to right field with one out. But they couldn’t bring Lewis in as senior catcher Brianna Swihart grounded out to shortstop and sophomore catcher Marissa Anderson struck out swinging.
The Warriors struck first in the sixth inning as freshman infielder and outfielder Ava Montesdeoca singled to third base with two outs in the inning. Sophomore outfielder and right-handed pitcher Moxie Barton doubled to score Montesdeoca and advanced to third on the throw, giving the Warriors the lead 1-0.
With only two innings remaining to tie the game, the ’Cats woke up in the sixth. Senior utility Kennedy Gustin got things started by reaching on an error by the Warriors’ shortstop and Lewis advanced Gustin on a hit by pitch. Swihart singled up the middle to score Gustin. Anderson advanced Lewis to third on a fielder’s choice, followed by senior outfielder Hannah Levy, who hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Lewis.
Freshman outfielder Lindsey Hubbard pinch ran for Anderson and scored on a double down the left field line by senior infielder Itzell De Los Rios. The ’Cats would add one more run as junior infielder Aiyana Curry came in to pinch hit and singled to right field to score De Los Rios. The ’Cats closed out the sixth and the game with a score of 4-1.
Valdez dominated the Warriors, pitching seven innings of one-run ball to open the series. She believed that studying the opponents and having support helped her secure the opener.
“Honestly, we got through a lot of the batters at practice. I feel like that helped me prepare mentally,” Valdez said. “But I feel like, honestly, just having good defense behind me and the run support always makes me throw free and feel a lot better.”
Despite giving up the lead late in the game, Valdez knew that the team had her back.
“I remember after they scored the run, I was a little frustrated with myself because I knew I could have placed that pitch a little bit better,” Valdez said. “But I feel like that’s what makes us closer. When you do make those mistakes, your team can have your back, put you on the board and even get ahead of the other team.”
Game 2: March 27, 3 p.m.
Looking to ride the momentum after winning the series opener, the ’Cats turned to junior left-handed pitcher Bella Tavares.
The ’Cats struck first this time in the third inning as Lewis singled to right field with two outs. Swihart brought Lewis in with a double up the middle as the ’Cats closed the third inning up 1-0.
The lead wouldn’t last an inning for the ’Cats as the Warriors put up three runs in the fourth inning.
Warriors’ utility Madison Rosebrough started the inning with a double to right center and then advanced to third on a single by senior utility McKenna Beach. Freshman outfielder Maggie Pyke loaded the bases by reaching on a fielding error at shortstop. The ’Cats got the tying run out as Montesdeoca reached on a fielder’s choice and Rosebrough was thrown out at home.
With one out remaining and the bases still loaded, the ’Cats looked to escape the inning without letting any damage occur.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Barton hit a routine grounder to second base as the ’Cats’ second basemen scooped up the ball and threw it to first, hoping to beat out the runner. The ball was thrown inaccurately and couldn’t be handled by the ’Cats’ first basemen, as all three Warriors’ baserunners scored, making the score 3-1.
The error rattled the ’Cats, who wouldn’t score in the last four innings and the Warriors took game two, 3-1.
Game 3: March 28, noon
Trying to bounce back after a rough loss, the ’Cats gave the ball back to Valdez for game three.
The ’Cats responded early by putting a run up in the first inning. Lewis got on base after being hit by a pitch. Swihart gave the ’Cats the lead with a double to right field that scored Lewis as they closed the first inning, 1-0.
Swihart struck again in the third inning with a double down the left field line. Levy brought her in with a single to right field as the ’Cats doubled their lead to 2-0.
The ’Cats added another run in the fourth inning as De Los Rios doubled down the left field line to begin the inning. Junior outfielder Gracie Dunning sacrificed a bunt to advance De Los Rios to third base. Freshman Lucy Sherburne brought her in with a sacrifice fly to right field and the ’Cats closed the inning 3-0.
The Warriors answered in the fifth inning with two outs. Senior infielder Malia Babasa singled and advanced to second on a fielding error in center field. Junior catcher and utility Katelyn Bridgeman singled to left field to score Babasa and make the score 3-1.
The ’Cats answered back with an insurance run in the fifth inning.
Lewis reached base on a fielding error by the Warriors’ third basemen and advanced to second on a Swihart single. Levy reached on a fielder’s choice to center field, which scored Lewis and increased the lead to 4-1.
The Warriors couldn’t respond in the last two innings as the ’Cats secured another win, 4-1.
Valdez started two of the four games and pitched the ball over 250 times in those games.
“Practice during the week helps a lot, because we do make sure to get our pitch counts up,” Valdez said. “But honestly, I think it’s a lot of adrenaline that runs through and I don’t feel really any pain in my body. So that’s what’s nice.”
Game 4: March 28, 2 p.m.
Looking to secure their second consecutive series win, the ’Cats gave the ball back to Tavares.
The ’Cats quickly took the lead before an out was recorded as Gustin reached base on a throwing error by the Warriors’ third basemen. Lewis stepped up to the plate.
Lewis watched a ball fall in the zone for strike one. She fouled the next two pitches off and watched a ball land outside the zone to make the count 1-2. She fouled her third consecutive strike to keep the count 1-2.
In the sixth pitch of the at-bat, she did not miss and crushed the ball to left field.
Lewis’ second home run of the campaign gave the ’Cats the lead 2-0.
But the ’Cats were not done.
Swihart singled to right field and advanced to second on a full count walk by Levy. De Los Rios singled to right field and brought Swihart in as the ’Cats concluded the first inning 3-0.
The next three innings were quiet, but Swihart disrupted the silence in the fifth inning with a double to center field. Levy bunted, singled and scored Swihart after a throwing error by the Warriors’ first basemen, as the ’Cats increased their lead 4-0.
The Warriors attempted a comeback in the seventh and final inning, loading the bases with two outs. But Pyke grounded out to shortstop and the ’Cats won their second consecutive series and series finale 4-0.
Lewis knew the Warriors’ pitchers would try to throw her something new when she hit her home run.
“I knew I was gonna get a lot of screwballs,” Lewis said. “I had just been lighting up the curveballs, they were gonna come inside and I was just sitting on that belt high screwball again.”
Lewis has seen the team come together ever since splitting the series against the number one-ranked Cougars.
“It’s really just about team synergy. We’ve gotten closer every day since that game and I think that really woke something in us. If we can beat the number one team, who can’t we beat?” Lewis said. “Wildcats over everybody!”
Lewis looks to bring the momentum into the next series.
“I think coming into this series, we thought we were gonna do better than we did,” Lewis said. “Now going into this future series, we know that we just got to keep grinding, work doesn’t stop, and there’s nowhere out from here.”
Swihart continues to scorch at the plate, reaching a hitting streak of 11 straight games, but she doesn’t see it as a personal milestone.
“Honestly, I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help my team,” Swihart said. “Find a way on and try to keep the rally going so my team can feed off of it. So we feed off of each other, too.”
Swihart also acknowledged the confidence of splitting the series against the number one-ranked San Marcos Cougars.
“I definitely think it’s helped us with our confidence,” Swihart said. “Playing as a team and just leaning more on each other, knowing that we can compete at the highest level and just believing in every game.”
Swihart feels the team is starting to figure things out, but there are still issues to address.
“There are always things that we need to work on, but I will say we’re definitely coming more and more together each game and in each practice,” Swihart said. “So I’m excited to see what the rest of the season has in store.”
The ’Cats begin another four-game series at Wildcat Softball Field against the San Francisco State Gators on Thursday at 1 p.m.
Wildcat Softball Field grants free entry with a Chico State student ID card or a student’s Canvas home page.
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.
Jamison Leung can be reached at [email protected]
