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Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

All content by Brandon Downs
Eddie Zavala takes a swing in a game against Cal State San Marcos on April 5, 2019. Photo credit: Olyvia Simpson

Wildcats clinch CCAA playoffs in doubleheader against SF State

Brandon Downs
May 3, 2019

The Wildcats baseball team traveled to San Francisco and clinched a playoff berth in Friday's doubleheader. Game one San Francisco State jumped on the Wildcats in the first inning with four runs,...

Brooke Larsen had a rough night in the Wildcats' first postseason game. Going 4.2 innings allowing seven runs, eight hits and walking three batters.
Image courtesy of Sports Information

‘Cats’ late rally falls short, now face elimination

Brandon Downs
May 2, 2019

The Wildcats softball team started the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship tournament with a late rally that fell short.Chico State took on Cal State San Bernadino Thursday night as...

Josh McCollum attempts to bury a shot at the Western Washington Invitational in this archived photo. Image courtesy of Chico State Athletics

Men’s golf can’t complete a comeback in championship

Brandon Downs
April 25, 2019

No. 5 Chico States men's golf put themselves in the wrong hole Tuesday and was unable to complete the comeback Wednesday in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Golf Championship.Day oneChico...

Ari Marsh became Chico State's hits leader with an opposite-field single to left in the top of the third inning in game two. Photo credit: Olyvia Simpson

Softball finishes strong against East Bay; Ari Marsh becomes hits leader

Brandon Downs
April 21, 2019

The softball team finished the season Saturday afternoon against Cal State East Bay by taking three games of four against the Pioneers. The team split Saturday's doubleheader as the second game took 10...

First baseman Dustin Miller tries to tag out Cal State San Marcos runner on Saturday, April 7, 2019. Photo credit: Olyvia Simpson

Walks cost Wildcats against the Toros

Brandon Downs
April 13, 2019

Chico State loses two games as they issued 12 walks and were outscored 17-5 in the first half of their series against Cal State Dominguez Hills. Friday’s game: Not much went well for the Wildcats...

Naomi Monahan picked up her third win of the season. She currently has a 2.91 ERA in 33 2/3 innings for the Wildcats. Photo credit: Brandon Downs

Bittersweet day for Chico State Softball, split Friday doubleheader with Stanislaus State

Brandon Downs
April 12, 2019

Chico State’s softball team wins game two of Friday's doubleheader against the Stanislaus State Warriors, having lost the first game 3-5 and winning the second game 3-1. Game one: Coming off of...

Larsen also excels in batting and owns a .316 batting average on the season in 64 plate appearances. She slugs .406 and has a .313 on-base percentage. She has 20 hits with 12 RBIs. Photo credit: Christian Solis

Wildcat of the Week: Brooke Larsen

Brandon Downs
April 10, 2019

Brooke Larsen is a transfer student in her sophomore year for Chico State who is putting together a great season on the mound and at the plate. In February, Larsen won California Collegiate Athletic...

2019 MLB playoffs will feature rebuilt teams

Brandon Downs
April 6, 2019

A week into this MLB season, there is a lot to be excited about; especially old faces in new uniforms and top prospects beginning their career in the pros. It's too early to predict anything, but let's...

On Sunday against UC San Diego Dustin Miller (25) had an RBI triple in the first inning.
Image Courtesy: Sports Information

Wildcats drop series to No. 8 UC San Diego

Brandon Downs
March 31, 2019

The Wildcats lose the series against No. 8 UC San Diego after the Tritons bats woke up in the second half of the series.After the Wildcats shutout UC San Diego for 15 innings, the Tritons outscored the...

Sid Lacy came into the eighth inning in game one of Saturday's doubleheader and pitched 2/3 of scoreless baseball. He allowed one hit, a walk and zero runs to score. 
Image courtesy: Sports Information

Wildcats silence number eight ranked UC San Diego

Brandon Downs
March 30, 2019

The Wildcats split the first two games of the series against, number eight ranked, UC San Diego, which started with 15 straight shutout innings before the Tritons bats woke up in their final two innings...

Left to right: Mckena Barker, Madison Wong, Shay Stark, Isaiah Brooks, Malik Duffy Photo credit: Brandon Downs

Love and support for five honored basketball players

Brandon Downs
March 18, 2019

Despite both teams missing the playoffs, five Chico State basketball players received recognition from the California Collegiate Athletic Association coaches for their hard work and success this season.The...

Rain flooded the tarp on the softball field after a thunderstorm. Photo credit: Brandon Downs

Rain becoming a problem for Wildcats baseball and softball

Brandon Downs
March 13, 2019

The Wildcats baseball and softball teams have not been able to play and practice how they would like due to this year's high amount of rain.The softball team has had four games postponed and six games...

Grant Larson delivers a pitch to a Stanislaus State Warriors batter in Sunday's game on Feb. 17, 2019. Photo credit: Olyvia Simpson

Wildcats sweep Pioneers after the rain

Brandon Downs
March 11, 2019

Wildcats baseball won three games within six hours Monday afternoon against Cal State East Bay, making it five straight wins for the team. Game one: On Sunday Turner Olson hit a three-run home run...

Dalton Smith came from Chico High School and redshirted his first year before making his first collegiate start Monday. Photo credit: Brandon Downs

Larson makes history as Wildcats baseball gets back to winning

Brandon Downs
March 5, 2019

Chico State’s starting pitcher Grant Larson threw the first one-hit complete-game shutout in Chico State baseball history on Monday. The left-hander struck out a career-high 10 Cal State Monterey...

Grant Larson's most memorable game came in 2017 in the CCAA championship game when he started for the first time for the Wildcats.

Larson throwing his way to MLB draft

Brandon Downs
February 22, 2019

Grant Larson, the left-handed, 6-foot-7 ace Wildcats pitcher wants to take his talents to the professional level after the 2019 season. In his 2018 sophomore campaign, Larson had a 6-4 record with 82.1...

McKena Barker shoots a layup against Humboldt State. 
Image credit: Jessica Bartlett/University Photographer

Five straight losses make playoff push harder for Wildcats women’s basketball

Brandon Downs
February 22, 2019

Chico State women's basketball lost their fifth straight game, by only one point in Thursday nights game at Cal State Los Angeles, with the largest lead being only six points. The game came down to...

Wildcats turn a double play to get out of the fourth inning. Photo credit: Brandon Downs

Wildcats baseball fight but lose battles in doubleheader

Brandon Downs
February 18, 2019

Game one: Game one of Sunday’s baseball doubleheader was a back-and-forth rally full of action; with a total of 25 runs between Chico State and Stanislaus State. The Stanislaus State Warriors stepped...

Calvin Geraci had four points on the night against Cal State San Bernadino Photo credit: Mathew Boe

Men’s basketball wins fourth straight while getting revenge

Brandon Downs
February 15, 2019

Chico State men's basketball team got revenge against Cal State San Bernadino with an 11 point victory Thursday night. The Coyotes beat the Wildcats 88-72 back in January, so the Wildcats have been...

Bailey Akins celebrates her home run at home plate with her teammates. Photo credit: Brandon Downs

Wildcats softball shutout doubleheader, sweeping Gators back to San Francisco

Brandon Downs
February 10, 2019

Game one:Sophomore pitcher Brooke Larsen does it all in game one of Sunday’s doubleheader against the San Francisco Gators.Larsen is a representative of the 2019 Schutt Sports/National Fastpitch...

Chico State third baseman Kristian Scott attempts to tag Simpsons' Creed Smith in the fifth inning. Photo credit: Brandon Downs

Wildcats baseball team holds on in game one, shutout in second

Brandon Downs
February 8, 2019

Chico State’s baseball team split Friday's doubleheader with the Simpson Red Hawks, giving the Wildcats their first loss of the season.Game one:The Wildcats were up 10-2 in the ninth inning of the...

Wildcats baseball captains from left to right: Tyler Stofiel (13), Alex DeVito (34), Brandon Hernadez (32), and Grant Larson (51). Photo credit: Brian Luong

Wildcats baseball sets high goals for the year

Brandon Downs
February 6, 2019

The Wildcats baseball team looked to get back into the swing of things after they headed down for a series against Fresno Pacific to start the 2019 campaign. Aside from a rain delay that canceled their...

Tyler Stofiel hits a bunt and successfully gets to first, loading the bases during the second game on May 4, 2018, against Stanislaus State. Photo credit: Martin Chang

Extra innings allow Wildcats to win out doubleheader

Brandon Downs
February 2, 2019

Game One:Chico State’s baseball team won a pair of nail-biters in a doubleheader Friday against the Fresno Pacific University Sunbirds.The Wildcats scored two early runs in the first inning of game...

Senior Natalie Valenzuela shots the second of her free-throws against UC San Diego Photo credit: Ricardo Tovar

Chico State women’s basketball win streak snapped at four to UC San Diego

Brandon Downs
January 25, 2019

Chico State women's basketball team fights and comes up short against UC San Diego Wednesday night at Acker Gymnasium, putting an end to their four-game win streak. The Wildcats got on the board first...