Softball team wins both in Sunday doubleheader

Anna Baytosh // February 8, 2016

Junior Cailin Garmon swings at the ball during the game against Dominican University on Feb. 7. Photo credit: Lindsay Pincus

The Wildcat softball team achieved its second and third win of the spring against the Dominican University Penguins, on Sunday, Feb. 7. Chico State defeated the Penguins at home with a score of 5-3 in the first, and then 6-1 in the final game.

The wins brings the ‘Cats to an overall record of 3-1 in pre-conference matches.

Game 1: The Penguins were the first to score at the top of the second inning. The ‘Cats were held scoreless thanks to four consecutive shutout innings by Dominican University pitching.

Battling defensively, both teams held the score at 1-0 for two additional innings.

At the top of the fifth, the Penguins scored once more. Starting the bottom of the fifth inning down 0-2, the Wildcats turned it up a notch.

With two outs and sophomore pitcher Haley Gilham on first, sophomore Karli Skowrup hit a double to put the ‘Cats at second and third.

Alli Cook, a senior outfielder, hit a single to send in Gilham for the first run of the game. Then Skowrup stole home, scoring another run for the Wildcats.

After a single from first-year Megan Bowley and a RBI double for senior Desiree’ Gonzalez, the ‘Cats thickened the lead to 5-2. Dominican University scored once more at the top of the sixth, but failed to tie, leading the Wildcats to a 5-3 win at the top of the seventh.

Cook- 1 H, 1 R, 1 RBI

Gonzalez- 1 H, 1 RBI

Gilham- 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 K

Junior Sarah Galaviz prepares to catch a ball in the outfield during a game against Dominican University on Feb. 7. Photo credit: Lindsay Pincus

Game 2: The second game was all Wildcats.

Scoring one in the first, the team exploded in the fourth inning.

RBIs by Bowley and junior Cyrena Taylor started the rally and gave the ‘Cats a 3-0 lead. Senior Brynn Lesovsky and Garmon added RBIs of their own in the innings to boost the the lead to 5-0.

They then added on one more for good measure when Garmon walked with the bases loaded in the fifth.

The Penguins would try their best to mount a come back, but ultimately fell short. Chico State would achieve the doubleheader sweep by a final score of 6-1.

Bowley- 3 H, 2 R, 1 RBI

Gonzalez- 3 H, 1 R

Senior Brook Langeloh- 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 8 K

The Wildcats face the Sonoma State Seawolves on Friday, Feb. 12 away at Rohnert Park for their first conference match.

Anna Baytosh and Nick Martinez-Esquibel can be reached at [email protected], or @anna_baytosh and @THENickMartinez on Twitter.