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Chico State scored three runs in the top of the first, which was more than enough for their staff in this game as three Wildcat pitchers combined to shutout Sonoma State, 3-0, in the double-elimination portion of the CCAA Softball Tournament. (May 4)
A walk to
Tayler Berens and a single to
Anastacia Alba started the rally.
Grace Stover and
Rachael Bles drove them in on RBI singles to put the Seawolves up 2-0.
Mari Bajan Takeda extended the lead to 3-0 when she scored on a wild pitch with two out.
Amalie Valdez went the first four innings for the Wildcats, allowing two hits and no runs. She struck out three and walked just one.
Katelyn Oldwin took over in the fifth after the first two batters reached. She got a popup, a strikeout, and a ground out to get out of the inning unscathed.
Sonoma State would threaten again in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Sierra Moffet and Reagan Hunt had back-to-back singles to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of 2023 CCAA Most Valuable Player
Anna Zoia-Buescher.
Chico State's coach
Angel Shamblin then called Takeda Bajan in from the pen. Zoia-Buescher took the count full before she chopped one to third base, and Alba slapped a tag on the runner for the final out.
Valdez (10-9) earned the win, and Takeda Bajan recorded the save (5).
Charlie Johnson pitched seven innings in relief for Sonoma State and did not allow an earned run.
Grace Stover had three of the six hits for the Wildcats, and she was the only student-athlete to record a multi-hit performance in the game.
Chico State will play in the Winner's Bracket on Friday, May 5 at Noon. Sonoma State will play later this afternoon in an elimination game.