Published 2011-03-10T16:54:00Z”/>

Kevin Augustine

Chico State softball finished its second home series of the season, against Cal State East Bay, on a solid note.

The Wildcats split the first doubleheader with a 2-5 loss in the first game, and a 3-2 win in the second.

The ‘Cats swept Wednesday’s doubleheader by scores of 6-2 and 4-2. The Wildcats are now 12-5 on the season and 9-3 in conference play, good for third in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings. The Pioneers are 8-12 overall, and 4-10 in conference play.

Junior second baseman Diana Payan, who had a team-leading five hits, two RBIs and one run in nine at bats in the series, thinks the Wildcats can maintain momentum and keep pace with the best in the CCAA, she said.

“I felt like I was seeing the ball well,” Payan said. “I was looking for a good pitch to hit and came through for the team. We finished the series strong and hope to carry it over against San Bernardino.”

It was a tale of two teams offensively for the Wildcats. On day one, the ‘Cats managed five runs, nine hits and four RBIs and were unable to put points on the board until the sixth and seventh innings. On day two, however, the claws came out as Chico managed 10 runs, 18 hits and 10 RBIs, scoring in the first inning of both games.

It was a rough outing for junior pitcher Sam Baker in game one of the series, as the Wildcat ace allowed seven hits, five runs and five errors in five innings pitched. The Pioneers took a commanding five-run lead in the sixth inning, scoring three runs off a single, double and triple. Despite the Wildcats adding two runs in the seventh and scoring off freshman shortstop Taylor Hanamaikai’s single and an error, the Pioneers held on to the lead and the game.

The second game of the series looked to be more of the same, as East Bay got on the board in the third inning off junior right fielder Mishka Hamor’s double.

Yet it was Wildcat junior pitcher Jessica McDermott’s 10 strikeout, five hit, two run and two walk performance that kept the ‘Cats in the game and the Pioneer offense at bay. Chico State scored twice in the sixth inning, first on a Payan double — followed by junior catcher Hailey Stockman’s third home run of the season, a solo shot into left field, to take the 2-1 lead.

The Pioneers tied the game in the seventh inning off junior catcher Taylor Neumann’s single, but it was a Hanamaikai double with a runner on that drove in the game-winning run for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats carried the momentum into the second day’s doubleheader, showing offensive power early and scoring two runs in the first inning of each game.

Chico came out swinging in the first gamer, as Stockman smacked a two-run triple in the first inning, followed by junior outfielder Britt Wright bringing in another run off a single in the second inning. Despite the Pioneers’ two-run third inning, Baker worked a complete game on seven strikeouts, five hits, two runs allowed and two walks. The ‘Cats brought in runs in the fourth and sixth innings while managing 12 hits, compared to five for the Pioneers.

It was more early offense from the Wildcats in the final game of the series.

Despite the Pioneers scoring on a Neumann single in the first inning, the Wildcats responded with two runs off singles by Stockman and freshman first baseman Keri Piluso. In the second inning, the ‘Cats scored two more runs as Payan drove in two runners off a double into right field. The Pioneers would score another run in the fourth, but McDermott kept the Pioneers guessing as she recorded a complete game, striking out five while allowing four hits, two runs, two errors and four walks.

The Wildcats face a tough stretch ahead with away games in the next two weeks, taking on No. 5 Cal State San Bernardino this weekend, followed by a crucial matchup against No. 2 Sonoma State.

<em>Kevin Augustine can be reached at</em>

<strong>[email protected]</strong>