Published 2008-02-26T00:00:00Z”/>

Connor Ramey

The softball team had its heart broken in San Francisco twice, losing two games in the final at-bats during their California Collegiate Athletic Association conference games this weekend against San Francisco State.

The lack of timely hitting and giving up home runs cost the Wildcats in two tightly contested games.

Friday’s doubleheader started with a back and forth game when both teams had leads. After being down 3-0 in the first inning, the Wildcats took a 6-4 lead in the fifth.

“It was a constant battle,” right fielder Nickie Jarrett said, who went 1-6 with a two-run homer during the weekend. “We would score a few runs then they would score a few runs.”

The Gators made their comeback off Wildcat Lauren Walker, who struggled in relief of starting pitcher Krystal Shaw, allowing three runs in three innings.

The Wildcats lost when a pitch hit San Francisco State’s Alyssa Esquibel with bases loaded, walking in a run and giving the Gators a 7-6 win.

Game two of the doubleheader was a pitcher’s duel that remained scoreless until the fifth inning when the Gators hit a home run. After the inning the game was postponed because of darkness.

The game finished Saturday morning. The Wildcats responded to the delay with a run in the seventh, tying the game and sending it into extra innings.

A run was scored when the Wildcats took advantage of a San Francisco State error, getting a two-out single from first baseman Chelsea Lundberg.

The Wildcats would not score again, and lost 2-1, despite out-hitting the Gators 9-8. A walk-off home run by the Gators’ Esquibel in the ninth inning made the difference.

“It was very hard losing those games at the end,” Jarrett said. “It showed we have to have our heads in the game from first to last pitch.”

The series was originally scheduled for two doubleheaders, but rain postponed Saturday’s doubleheader. The rescheduled dates had not been announced as of print time.

The losses put the Wildcats’ record at 7-9, with 2-4 in conference games.

After starting the season on the road, the Wildcats will return home and play their first home games of the year against the 10-7 Cal State Monterey Bay.

The series is a rematch of a tournament game earlier in the year, a game the Otters won 3-1.

The game was the first game of the year for both the Otters and the Wildcats.

The Monterey Bay pitcher, who played all seven frames, shut down the Wildcats’ offense. Shaw lasted six innings, giving up all three runs on four hits.

“We need to come out swinging to be successful,” Jarrett said.

A series victory for the Wildcats is important because of conference standings for both teams. Chico State is sixth in the CCAA while the 5-3 Otters are third.

“Every win is important, especially conference games,” Jarrett said.

The Otters come to Chico with a 3-1 road record and hope to continue their conference and road success. The ‘Cats are still trying to find their footing in the young season.

The series is scheduled for two doubleheaders, beginning 1 p.m. Friday.

Connor Ramey can be reached at<a href= “mailto:[email protected]”>[email protected]</a>