05/07/06
Wildcats end regular season in encouraging style
Chico State hurler Ben Buker struck out 11 and the Wildcat offense put 11 runs on the board on 11 hits to finish off the regular season with an 11-0 shutout of Cal State Stanislaus. The Chico State baseball team qualified for its eighth CCAA Baseball Tournament with a doubleheader sweep of the Warriors on Saturday and won the series, 3-1, with the shutout on Sunday.
The Wildcats end the regular season with a 36-19 record, 20-13 in the CCAA. Stanislaus ends it season at 31-24, 18-17 in conference play.
Buker improved to 5-3, giving up just four hits in the seven innings of work. Reid Horton gave up one hit in the eighth and closer Marcus Martinez allowed two hits in the ninth to combine for the shutout.
Carl Fairburn opened the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the first inning, his sixth of the season, and Christopher Sweeney drove in another run for a early 2-0 lead. The Wildcats added an unearned run in the third and Robby Scott singled in two runs in the fifth for a 5-0 advantage.
In the sixth, the Wildcats took advantage of two errors to score four runs on two hits. Daniel Code doubled to pick up the inning’s only RBI. Six Stanislaus errors accounted for five unearned runs in the contest.
Jerin Harper capped off the scoring with his seventh home run of the season, a two-out, two-run shot.
Next up for the Wildcats is the 2006 CCAA Baseball Championship Tournament hosted by Cal State L.A., May 11-13. No. 4 seed Chico State takes on No. 1 seed Cal State Dominguez Hills on Thursday at 3:00. No. 2 seed UC San Diego will play the host No. 3 seed Cal State L.A. at 7:00.
05/06/06
Wildcats earn berth in CCAA Tournament with doubleheader sweep of Stanislaus
TURLOCK, Calif. - With a doubleheader sweep of Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday, the Chico State baseball team earned the fourth-and-final berth in the upcoming 2006 CCAA Baseball Championship Tournament. The Wildcats won both games decisively, 12-6 and 13-3 to advance to their eighth straight postseason tournament.
The Wildcats are the only CCAA team to have played in each of the seven previous CCAA Championship Tournaments, dating back to its inception in 1999. This year’s tournament carries a bigger payoff than in the past: The winner will receive an automatic berth in the West Regional.
The CCAA Baseball Championship Tournament will be hosted by Cal State L.A., May 11-13. Chico State, the No. 4 seed takes on No. 1 Cal State Dominguez Hills in the opening game at 3:00on Thursday, May 11. Cal State L.A. plays UC San Diego in the 7:00 game. The seeding of that match-up will determined after tomorrow’s final regular-season games.
With all the marbles on the table, the Wildcats came through in a big way today. In the opening game, the 'Cats took advantage of two errors in the opening inning to take a 4-0 lead, highlighted by Daniel Code’s two-run single. Stanislaus wasted no time getting back in the game with three runs of its own in the bottom of the second, including a two-run homer by Tony Scognamiglio.
After a lone run in the sixth, the Wildcats tacked on four in the eighth thanks to a three-run homer by Aaron Demuth, his ninth of the season, and three more in the ninth on a three-run homer by Jerin Harper, his seventh this year.
The Warriors did manage to score three more in the ninth, but were unable to keep the rally rolling when reliever Reid Horton came on to get a quick double play to end the game.
Billy Spottiswood (W, 8-5) gave up three runs on ten hits and struck out four in his 5 1/3 innings of work. He left the game with a 5-3 lead and the bases loaded in the sixth with one out. Elliott Tyson came on to record a strikeout and a fly ball to right to end the threat.
Haper went 5-for-6 in the game with three RBI and four runs scored. Code was 3-for-3, drove in four runs and scored twice.
In the second game it was the Warriors taking a 3-0 lead with a lone run scored on a passed ball in the second and a two-run homer by Scognamiglio, his second of the day, in the third.
The Wildcats looked to be in trouble, as Stanislaus starter Ryan McGrath (L, 4-4) allowed just one hit through the first four innings. But the Wildcats rallied for 10 runs in the fifth, taking advantage of three Stanislaus errors and sending 14 batters to the plate. Demuth blasted another three-run homer in the inning, his team high tenth of the year, and has now recorded six home runs in his last seven games.
Demuth, Christopher Sweeney, and Chad Williams each had a pair of hits in the game.
Garrett Rieck (W, 3-2) pitched the complete game, giving up three runs on eight hits in the seven innings. He struck out four and walked two. He faced just two batters over the minimum in the final four innings.
The two teams wrap up the four-game series tomorrow at noon.
05/05/06
Wildcats waste 5-1 lead in crucial CCAA contest
TURLOCK - With eight teams still battling for the four spots to participate in the 2006 CCAA Baseball Championship Tournament May 11-13, every game is crucial and this one really hurt. The Wildcats squandered a four-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning as Cal State Stanislaus rallied for six runs to win 7-6 in Turlock on Friday.
The 24th- ranked Wildcats (33-19, 19-14) held a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth, but the Warriors took advantage of two costly errors to take the lead.
Aaron Demuth homered, a two-run shot in the fifth, to give the ‘Cats the 5-1 lead. Jerin Harper had two hits and two RBI and Daniel Code and Trevor Weedon each finished the game with a pair of hits.
Cal State Stanislaus (31-21, 17-13) opened the scoring in the second inning when Tony Marx led off the frame with a solo home run off Wildcat starter Nick Bryant. Bryant gave up just the one run on four hits through six innings of work and struck out seven.
The Wildcats used six pitchers in the game with Jason Gillard (0-1) taking the loss for his first decision of the season.
Friday's baseball finals
CSUSB 4, CSULA 0 in 10 innings (Billy Ermert 3 run HR in top 10)
UCSD 5, CSUMB 4 (Matt Cantele walkoff solo HR in bottom 9)
CSUDH 17, CPP 6 (Toros become 1st team to clinch a spot in CCAA Tournament)
SFSU 8, SSU 6 (Sonoma now must win its last 3 and get help to get in the tourney)
CSUS 7, CSUC 6 (Stanislaus rallies from 5-1 deficit late in game)
Here's what it looks like heading into Saturday:
- between CSULA/CSUSB, CSUSB must win both to get in and it would also eliminate CSULA; a split or CSULA sweep puts CSULA in and CSUSB out
- between Chico State/Cal State Stanislaus, whichever team wins 2 of the last 3 games in that series is in; the other is out
- Sonoma is eliminated on Saturday with any win by UCSD or any SSU loss to SFSU
- UCSD is in with 1 win in the remaining 3 games
05/03/06
Baseball team No. 3 in latest regional rankings
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Chico State baseball team is ranked No. 3 in the latest Western Region rankings announced Wednesday. Six of the region's teams will compete in the Western Regional of the 2006 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Tournament May 18-21.
The winners of the CCAA and RMAC Conference Championship Tournaments will receive automatic bids to the regional. They will be joined by the four remaining teams ranked highest in the final regional rankings.
Chico State dropped from No. 2 to No. 3 after splitting a four-game series at Cal State San Bernardino over the weekend. Western Oregon University remained No. 1, followed by No. 2 Cal State L.A., No. 3 Chico State, No. 4 Mesa State, No. 5 Fort Hays State, No. 6 UC San Diego, No. 7 Colorado State-Pueblo, No. 8 Cal State Dominguez Hills, No. 9 Regis, and No. 10 Cal State Stanislaus.
Chico State will wrap up its regular season with a crucial four-game series at Cal State Stanislaus this weekend.
04/29/06
Wildcats drop to fourth place with Coyote split
SAN BERNARDINO - Christopher Sweeney led a six home run barrage with a pair as the Chico State baseball team took the series finale at Cal State San Bernardino Saturday to earn a doubleheader and series split. Chico State lost Saturday’s first game 5-4 before rebounding to win the second game 14-3.
The win in the final game of the series was crucial for the Wildcats, who began the weekend with a slim hold on first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings but now stand in fourth place at 33-18 overall and 17-12 in the CCAA. The four CCAA Championship Tournament participants will be decided by winning percentage. Cal State L.A. holds a slim lead in first place at 18-11-1 (.617). Cal State Dominguez Hills is currently in second place at 16-10 (.615). UC San Diego, 19-13 (.594), is in third place.
The Wildcats are just 16-15 since a 17-3 start, but they can wrap up a spot in the postseason by sweeping their series at Cal State Stanislaus this weekend. A simple series victory would likely also do the trick. However, the Warriors are also fighting for a spot in the tournament. They are 18-14 (.563) in the CCAA, tied with Cal State San Bernardino for fifth place. Seventh-place Sonoma State is also alive in the postseason race with a 15-13 (.536) conference mark.
In Saturday’s opener, Aaron Demuth hit a two-run homer and the game was tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh. San Bernardino starting pitcher Michael Rocco and closer Rylan Hanks proved to be too good, however. Rocco allowed just three hits and struck out 10 to improve to 6-2. Hanks pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save.
Ben Buker (4-3) took the loss for Chico State.
The Coyotes pitching staff was not so stingy in the second game. The Wildcats scored 14 runs on 16 hits, including nine extra-base hits. Jerin Harper went 3-for-3 and was twice hit by pitches. He homered, doubled, drove in three runs, and also scored three times. Sweeney went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and four RBI. Robby Scott hit a three-run homer. Carl Fairburn and Demuth also homered and drove in three runs apiece.
Elliott Tyson (4-0) earned the win in relief of Garrett Rieck. Marcus Martinez got the Wildcats’ last eight outs to earn his 12th save of the season.
04/28/06
Wildcats drop to second place after split with Coyotes
SAN BERNARDINO - Behind a complete-game victory by Nick Bryant, the Chico State baseball team had little trouble with Cal State San Bernardino in the opening game of a four-game CCAA series, beating the Coyotes 11-4. But the Wildcats were shutout in the nightcap, 7-0, mustering just six hits in the seven-inning contest.
The split drops Chico State (32-17, 16-11 CCAA) into second place in the conference standings. Cal State L.A. (27-10, 16-10 CCAA) takes over the top spot after beating Sonoma State today. San Bernardino (21-17, 17-13 CCAA) is currently in fourth place, just behind Cal State Stanislaus (29-10, 17-12 CCAA), which beat Cal Poly Pomona today.
Fiscalini Field has the reputation of being a “launching pad” for home runs because of its tight dimensions and Friday was a typical day, yielding seven homers in game one and three more in the nightcap.
In game one, Bryant (W, 7-2) allowed nine hits, struck out six and walked four for his second complete game of the season. He gave up a two-out homer in the bottom of the first inning, then shut down the Coyotes over the next five innings before giving up solo home runs in the seventh and eighth innings, and a final run in the ninth.
The Wildcats broke the game open in the fifth, scoring seven runs off starter Jeff Olson (L, 1-1). Carl Fairburn produced two runs with a double while Daniel Code brought in three with a homer, his eighth of the year, and Aaron Demuth sent Olson to the showers with a solo blast, his fifth this season, to make it 8-1
In addition to Code’s and Demuth’s homers, Jerin Harper hit his fifth and Fariburn hit his fourth of the year. Of the Wildcats’ 17 hits, Chad Williams had three and Fairburn, Harper, Code, Christopher Sweeney, Demuth, Jorge Arazia, and Trevor Weedon each had two hits.
In the late game, San Bernardino kept the long ball coming with three more home runs, a two-run shot in the second and a another two-run homer and a solo home run in the third to give the Coyotes a quick 5-0 lead.
The Coyotes added knocked started Billy Spottiswood (L, 2-5) out of the game in the fourth inning, after giving up six runs, five earned, on six hits in three innings of work. Ryan Harbaugh pitched the final three innings, giving up one unearned run on four hits.
San Bernardino lefty Douglas Brandt (W, 6-2) allowed just six hits, while striking out seven and walking three.
The Wildcats had their opportunities but stranded 10 runners in the game. Sweeney had two hits for the Wildcats, including the team’s only extra base hit in game two, a double.
The same two teams will meet again Saturday at Fiscalini for a noon doubleheader.
04/26/06
Baseball remains No. 2 in West region
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Chico State baseball team, currently 31-16 and ranked No. 17 in the nation, remained at No. 2 in the second Western Region baseball poll released by the NCAA Wednesday. Western Oregon University, 31-13, remained No. 1.
Six teams from the region will qualify for the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional May 18-21. The winner of the regional tournament earns a berth in the Division II College World Series.
The lack of movement by Chico State and Western Oregon at the top of the poll did not mirror the bottom. Mesa State (31-14) jumped from the sixth spot to No. 3. UC San Diego (26-21) slipped from third to No. 4. Fort Hays State (35-13) moved up three spots to No. 5. Cal State L.A. (24-10-1) fell two spots to No. 6. Regis of Colorado (29-19) moved into the rankings thanks to a 17-16 record against Division II teams with records above .500. Cal State Dominguez Hills (23-16) is currently ranked ninth, and Colorado State-Pueblo (27-17) is 10th. Cal State Stanislaus, No. 7 last week, dropped out of the rankings.
04/23/06
Wildcat-Seawolf series ends in a tie
ROHNERT PARK - The wild ride that has become the 2006 Chico State baseball season continued with a split of sorts at Sonoma State Sunday. The Wildcats won the opener 5-1. It was a continuation of Saturday’s halted game at Chico State. They then dropped a 12-9 affair in which they erased a 9-0 deficit with a nine-run seventh only to eventually lose, and then rode starting pitcher Ben Buker’s arm to a 2-0 victory in the series finale.
The Wildcats, now 31-16 overall and 15-10 in the CCAA, started the weekend with a very slim lead atop the conference standings, dropped to fourth after Friday’s loss, and then moved all the way back up to first with Sunday’s effort. Sonoma State, now 23-16-1 overall and 14-10 in CCAA action, started the weekend in third place, moved into first with Friday’s victory, and then dropped back into third after Sunday’s action. Just a game and a half separate the first seven spots in the CCAA. The four CCAA Championship Tournament selections will be determined by winning percentage, so following Chico State (.600) are Cal State L.A. (.596), Sonoma State (.583), Cal State Stanislaus (.571), Cal State San Bernardino (.571), Cal State Dominguez Hills (.545), and UC San Diego (.536).
Jason Gillard and Buker were perhaps the biggest keys to Sunday’s victories. Gillard took the ball to begin the final three innings of the halted game and twirled a gem, allowing just one walk and striking out three in three scoreless innings to earn his first save of the year. In Sunday’s final game, Buker did not allow a hit through five innings and fired a complete-game, one-hit shutout. He struck out seven and walked five to improve to 4-2 on the season.
Daniel Code delivered the big hit in Chico State’s 2-0 victory in the nightcap with a two-run single in the third. Jerin Harper also capped a strong weekend with a 2-for-2 effort. Oscar Mendoza delivered Sonoma State’s only hit with none out in the sixth.
In Sunday’s 12-9 loss to the Seawolves, Chico State trailed 9-0 before rallying for nine runs in the seventh on seven hits and three walks to tie it 9-9. The Seawolves answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning and another in the eighth to win going away, however.
Paige Dumont (2-0) allowed one run in the final two-plus innings to earn the win. Reid Horton (2-2) was responsible for both runs in the bottom of the seventh and took the loss. Robby Scott went 3-for-4 to lead Chico State’s offense. Daniel Code, Chad Williams, and Mark Gentry notched two hits apiece.
First-place Chico State is set to face fourth-place Cal State San Bernardino for a four-game series in Southern California this weekend, while third-place Sonoma State travels to take on second-place Cal State L.A.
04/22/06
Game halted in the sixth inning due to rain
CHICO - Rain has played havoc on the Chico State baseball team all season. Thus it was fitting that Saturday’s regular-season home finale against Sonoma State was halted due to rain. The Wildcats led 5-1 with a runner on second and one out in the bottom of the sixth when the umpires called the game. The game will be completed Sunday in Rohnert Park at 11 a.m.
Chico State (29-15, 13-9 CCAA) and Sonoma State (22-14-1, 13-8 CCAA) were already scheduled to play a doubleheader in Rohnert Park Sunday, so Saturday’s game will now be completed prior to that doubleheader.
Chico State pounded Sonoma State starter Alberto Rolon for five runs on seven hits and four walks in five-plus innings of work. Christopher Sweeney blasted a two-run homer and Carl Fairburn hit a solo shot over the wall in straightaway center field.
Jerin Harper opened the scoring with an RBI-single in the third. Sweeney followed with his sixth homer, and Aaron Demuth later doubled and scored on an error to make it 4-0 after three innings. Fairburn’s solo shot in the fourth inning, his third of the year, gave Chico State a 5-0 lead.
Sonoma State scored its only run off Chico State starter Billy Spottiswood in the sixth. Travis Babin led off the inning with a single and eventually scored on B.J. Collom’s grounder one-half inning before the game was halted.
Spottiswood surrendered just one run on three hits and a walk in six innings.
04/21/06
Disputed home run, lack of clutch hitting doom Wildcats
The Chico State baseball team pounded out 17 hits, but a botched home run call and a lack of clutch hitting were too much for the Wildcats to overcome in a 7-5 loss to Sonoma State in a battle for first place in the CCAA Friday night. Chico State, 29-15 overall and 13-9 in the CCAA, dropped from first to fourth in the conference standings with the loss. Sonoma State (22-14-1, 13-8) moved into first place.
Chico State led 1-0 in the third when Sonoma State's B.J. Collom came to the plate with two men on. Collom hit a long fly ball to right field that bounced off the warning track and skidding up and over the wall. Base umpire Gene Walker raised two fingers into the air, presumably signaling a ground-rule double, but after Sonoma State Head Coach John Goelz complained and Walker talked the player over with home plate umpire Jim Lenau, Walker changed his call and signaled a home run.
The Wildcats eventually came back to tie the game and had plenty of chances to assert control, but could not get the big hit when they needed it. That was especially true in the seventh inning. They trailed 6-4, but loaded the bases with singles by Chad Williams, Carl Fairburn, and Jerin Harper. Sonoma State reliever Christopher Herrera got himself out of the jam by striking out cleanup hitter Christopher Sweeney and Wildcats RBI-leader Daniel Code and then inducing a groundout off the bat of Joey Burke.
Over the game's final four innings, the Wildcats were just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They were 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position for the game as Sonoma State snapped a five-game losing streak at Nettleton Stadium.
Collom, meanwhile, finished 4-for-5 with three runs and four RBI for the Seawolves, who improved to 18-6 on the road. His RBI-single in the sixth gave the Seawolves the lead for good and he came around to score what proved to be the winning run on Tyler Whightman's double moments later.
Matt Bush (4-0) earned the win for Sonoma State. He gave up 11 hits and four runs, all of them earned, in six innings of work. Glen Wood got the final four outs for his first save of the season. Neal Logue (2-2) took the loss in relief for the Wildcats.
Williams, Fairburn, and Sweeney led the Wildcats with three hits apiece. Jesus Luna and Jorge Araiza were both 2-for-4.
The teams continue their four-game series at Nettleton Stadium Saturday at 1 p.m. and then wrap it up with a doubleheader at Sonoma State Sunday at noon.
04/19/06
Wildcats No. 2 in first regional poll of season
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Chico State baseball team is ranked No. 2 in the West Region according to the first installment of the NCAA Division II regional polls released Wednesday. The top six teams in each of eight regions around the nation will earn a berth in the NCAA Championship Tournament.
Chico State, ranked No. 17 in the nation, is 29-14 overall, but just 16-11 versus in-region Division II opponents. Western Oregon (25-13), which took two-of-three games from the Wildcats last week, is currently the top team in the region. UC San Diego (24-18) is ranked third, followed by No. 4 Cal State L.A. (22-10-1), No. 5 Sonoma State (20-12), No. 6 Mesa State (28-13), No. 7 Cal State Stanislaus (26-15) , and No. 8 Fort Hays State of Kansas (34-10).
This season the number of championship tournament teams increases from 32 to 48, meaning six teams from each region will compete for a regional title instead of four. The increase in teams also means that some conference champions will automatically qualify for the regional. In the west, the champion of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, of which Chico State is a member. and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference will automatically advance to the regional. The Great Northwest Athletic Conference does not have an automatic qualifier.
Chico State has struggled of late, going just 12-11 since a 17-3 start. However, the Wildcats earned quality early-season wins against Nebraska-Omaha, currently ranked No. 1 in the Central Region, and Central Missouri State, ranked No. 2 in the Central Region. Chico State also beat West No. 6 Mesa State and took three-of-four in a series against West No. 4 Cal State L.A.
The Wildcats open a crucial four-game series against West No. 5 Sonoma State Friday at Nettleton Stadium at 6 p.m. The series continues at Nettleton Stadium with a single game Saturday at 1 p.m., and then moves to Sonoma State Sunday for a doubleheader beginning at noon.
04/15/06
Meggs bests former player as 'Cats sweep Fresno Pacific
Fresno Pacific Head Coach Oscar Hirschkorn learned a lot from Chico State Head Coach Linday Meggs as a pitcher for the Wildcats in 1996 and 1997. Saturday, he learned a bit from Meggs as a coach. Meggs' Wildcats pulled out victories of 5-4 and 4-3 as the Wildcats swept a doubleheader from the Sunbirds at Nettleton Stadium. The games marked the first against a former player for Meggs.
Chico State, now 29-14, improved to 17-6 at Nettleton Stadium this season. Fresno Pacific fell to 14-20. The Wildcats will kick off a crucial California Collegiate Athletic Association series against Sonoma State with their final two home games of the regular season Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. before playing their final 10 games of the regular season on the road.
In the opener, pinch hitter Casey Smyth singled to lead off the bottom of the ninth and pinch runner Chad Williams eventually scored on consecutive errors by Fresno Pacific second baseman Adam Alva. Alva bobbled Shane Cauley's grounder to give Chico State runners on first and second with one out. Burke then smashed a hard ground ball that skidded under the glove of Alva and allowed Williams to come around to score the game-winning run.
Elliott Tyson (3-0) earned the win in relief, allowing two hits and walking two in two-and-two-thirds scoreless innings. Michael Mendrin (3-5), on the mound for the ninth, took the loss for Fresno Pacific. Trevor Weedon and Jerin Harper notched two hits apiece to lead Chico State. Justin Crisp was 3-for-5, Elliot Salcedo was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI, and Kyle Newton hit a two-run homer to pace Fresno Pacific.
Reid Horton, currently one of Chico State's hottest pitchers, earned the victory for Chico State, allowing just one earned run on six hits in five innings to improve to 2-1. In his last three outings, spanning 13-plus innings, Horton is 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA, 11 strikeouts, and just one walk. Ryan Harbaugh pitched a perfect eighth, and Marcus Martinez pitched the seventh for his 11th save.
Chico State trailed 1-0 through two innings, but Aaron Demuth blasted a three-run doubled to the wall in right center in the third to give the Wildcats a 4-1 lead. Jesus Luna's RBI grounder had tied the game 1-1 moments earlier.
Fresno Pacific tried to rally in the seventh against Martinez, but after Andy Locke walked to lead off the seventh, he was thrown out by Christopher Sweeney trying to go from first to third on Alva's sacrifice bunt to kill the rally.
Demuth finished 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles to lead Chico State's offense. For Fresno Pacific, Mike Pierce went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Salcedo also drove in a run.
04/13/06
Wildcats drop series to Western Oregon
MONMOUTH, Ore. - Jerin Harper belted a three run homer in the top of the ninth as the Chico State baseball team rallied for four runs in the inning, but it wasn’t enough as the Wildcats fell 8-7 to Western Oregon to lose the series. The teams split on Tuesday with Chico winning the opener 2-1 and Western Oregon winning the late game 7-1.
Chico State, currently ranked No. 13 in the nation and No. 2 in the West, drops to 27-14. WOU improves to 22-13 and the series win marks the first time the Wolves have taken a series from the Wildcats. Chico leads the all-time series 36-7.
Chico State scored two unearned runs in the top of first inning and held the 2-0 lead until WOU cut the lead in half with a run in the fourth. But Western Oregon added three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to take a 6-2 lead. Chico added a run in the seventh, but two more runs for the Wolves in the eighth sent the Wildcats into their final at-bat down 8-3.
Robby Scott led off the ninth with a single. After an out to right field, Joey Burke put runners on the corners with a hit of his own and Christopher Sweeney plated the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly. Daniel Code kept the inning alive with a two-out single and Harper cleared the bases with his fourth home run of the season. Aaron Demuth reached first on an infield hit to put the tying run on base, but a fly ball to center ended the threat.
Starter Neal Logue (L, 2-1) took the loss, giving up four runs of six hits, walking three and striking out two. Logue was one of five Wildcat pitchers used in the game.
On Wednesday, Chico’s Nick Bryant retired the first ten batters he faced and pitched seven solid innings for the 2-1 victory. He gave up one unearned run on three hits and struck out three.
The Wildcats scored on a solo home run by Demuth in the second inning, his fourth of the season and put up an unearned run in the third. Burke led off the inning with a single, was sacrificed to second on Jesus Luna’s bunt and came in to score on a fielding error by the WOU shortstop.
In the 7-1 loss in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, Chico State scored the first run of the game in the top of the fifth, but WOU answered back with six runs in the bottom of the frame, five unearned.
Billy Spottiswood (L, 6-4) pitched well through four innings, allowing just three runners to reach base. But in the fifth he gave up three hits, hit a batter and made a fielding error on a bunt play before an out was recorded.
The Wildcats host Fresno Pacific on Saturday, April 15 at noon for a doubleheader.
04/10/06
Wildcats climb to top of CCAA standings
After taking three out of four from CSU Monterey Bay last week, the Wildcats (13-8 CCAA) took over sole position of first place in the CCAA standings. Entering last week, the Wildcats were a half game back of Sonoma, Stanislaus and San Bernardino. Sonoma State (12-8) and Stanislaus (14-10) split over the weekend and San Bernardino (12-8) did not play any CCAA games. UC San Diego also won three games this week and stand at 14-10.
The Wildcats, ranked No. 11 in the nation and No. 2 in the West, take a break from conference play this week with games at Western Oregon on Wednesday and Thursday. They host Fresno Pacific for a doubleheader in Nettleton Stadium on Saturday at noon.
Chico State has 12 CCAA games remaining on the schedule. The Wildcats host Sonoma State April 21-22 and then finish the series with a doubleheader in Rohnert Park on Sun. Apr. 23. The 'Cats are on the road for the final two series against San Bernardino (App. 28-30) and Stanislaus (May 5-7).
The top four teams will play in the CCAA Championship Tournament May 11-13 at a site to be determined.
04/07/06
Wildcats take the hit to sweep doubleheader and win CCAA series
CHICO - It didn’t come easy or without pain, but the Chico State Wildcats took advantage of two hit batsmen in the bottom of the final inning to load the bases and plate the winning run for a 4-3 victory in the second game of the doubleheader against CSU Monterey Bay. The Wildcats won the first game 12-1 and win the California Collegiate Athletic Association series with the Otters 3-1.
With the wins, the 11th-ranked Wildcats improve to 26-12 overall, 13-8 in CCAA play. Monterey Bay is now 11-28 overall, 4-20 in conference.
The games today looked similar to yesterday’s, as the Wildcats cruised through the first game only to see their bats dry up for the nightcap.
In the opener, the Wildcats belted out 17 hits, including a three-run homer by Christopher Sweeney in the third to give the ’Cats an early 4-0 lead. Chico State batted through the order in the fourth inning, tagging on four more runs on six hits.
Jorge Araiza, starting in just his fifth game this season was 2-for-5 in the game with his first homer of the year, a two-run shot in the seventh. Sweeney ended the game 3-for-5 with 5 RBI. Right fielder Jerin Harper was 4-for-5 and Shane Cauley, Daniel Code, Aaron Demuth, and James McCarthy each had two hits in the game.
Neal Logue (W, 2-0), making his third start of the year, pitched eight solid innings. Logue gave up one unearned run on five hits, struck out five and walked one and retired the side in order four times. Ryan Harbaugh came on in the ninth, striking out two of the three he faced.
Chico local Tyler Harvey (L, 3-5) took the loss for Monterey Bay, giving up seven runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings of work.
In the late game, Monterey Bay took a 2-0 lead in the fourth as the Wildcats struggled to put runners on base against starter Nick Dianda (L, 0-3), who went the distance for the Otters.
Only one Chico State runner reached base through the first three innings, but the ‘Cats tied up the game in the bottom of the fourth when Joey Burke, who now has a eight-game hitting streak to his credit, and Harper led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Both came around to score on RBI singles by Sweeney and McCarthy.
With the game tied 2-2, Chico State was sat down in order in the fifth and sixth innings and it was Monterey Bay who struck in the top of the seventh, scoring the first run of the year off Wildcat closer Marcus Martinez (W, 2-0). The Otters did it in textbook style: Troy Sanchez led off the inning with a hit, was sacrificed to second, and scored on a two-out double by Daniel Gomez.
In the bottom of the inning, McCarthy reached base on a one-out hit and looked to be stranded there after a pop up to second base was recorded for the second out, but pinch-hitter Robby Scott walked and Cauley hit a hard ball up the middle to drive in pinch-runner Greg Finazzo for the tying run. Burke was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Chad Williams was then hit to walk in the winning run.
The Wildcats had seven hits in the game. McCarthy was the only Wildcat with two hits and finished the day 4-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Chico State hits the road next week for a three-game series with Western Oregon on Wednesday and Thursday.
04/06/06
Wildcats miss out on chance to move into first place
With two wins against last-place Cal State Monterey Bay, the Chico State baseball team would have moved into sole possession of first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Thursday at Nettleton Stadium. They were forced to settle with a split, however, as Budd Glock tossed a complete-game, five-hitter to lift the Otters to a 3-2 victory in the nightcap. Chico State won the first game 9-2.
The Wildcats, 24-12 overall and 11-8 in the CCAA, now trail conference leaders Sonoma State, Cal State Stanislaus, and Cal State San Bernardino by one-half game. Cal State Monterey Bay improved to 10-25 overall and 4-18 in the CCAA.
Nick Bryant, 5-2, allowed just one earned run and struck out seven in eight innings of work to lead the Wildcats to victory in the opener. Trevor Weedon went 2-for-4 with three RBI, Jerin Harper finished 2-for-5 with two RBI, and Joey Burke was 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI to pace the Chico State offense. Jesus Luna finished 2-for-2 with a pair of runs, and RBI, a sacrifice bunt, and got hit by a pitch.
Norman Herbert (2-2) took the loss for the Otters. He allowed seven runs on six hits and three walks in five-plus innings of work. Gerry Rommel hit a solo home run and Daniel Gomez notched an RBI-single for Cal State Monterey Bay.
In the nightcap, Chico State starter Billy Spottiswood (6-3) absorbed his third loss in a row. He was touched for three runs, one of them earned, on seven hits in four-and-two-thirds innings. Glock improved to 3-1 with the win. He entered the game with just 10-plus innings of work under his belt, but tossed a gem, allowing only one extra-base hit.
The Otters jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third on Nick Zaballos' two-run single. Chico State tied it 2-2 in the fourth when Harper led off with a double, came around to score on Luna's single, and then Christopher Sweeney scored on shortstop Daniel Gomez's throwing error.
Monterey Bay took the lead for good in the fifth when Gabe Chase led off with a double and eventually just beat the throw on Rommel's sacrifice fly.
Chico State had its chances to tie or take the lead, but 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position over the final three frames. Daniel Code flew out to deep center field with the potential tying run on third base to end the game.
The series will end with a doubleheader Friday at noon.
04/05/06
Wildcats fall to Bethany 3-2
Bethany University's Jacob McKinley struck out Chad Williams with runners on second and third in the bottom of the ninth to earn a 3-2 complete-game victory over the Wildcats Wednesday afternoon at Nettleton Stadium. McKinley allowed just two runs on eight hits and struck out eight in his route-going performance. Chico State, meanwhile, stranded eight runners and went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Chico State, which has now dropped eight of its last 14 contests, fell to 23-11 with the loss. Reid Horton (1-1) took the loss. Bethany improved to 14-19. McCarthy improved to 5-5 with the win.
The Bruins scored twice in the fourth against Wildcats starter Horton and led from that point on. Brady Wilkes and David Raichart hit consecutive one-out singles and Raymond Montez singled through the right side to plate Wilkes. McKinley's sacrifice fly scored Raichart to make it 2-0.
That was all Horton would allow. He went seven-and-a-third innings, allowing just those two runs on six hits and no walks. He struck out eight.
Meanwhile, the Chico State offense was scuffling against McCarthy. Daniel Code hit into a double play with two runners on to end the first. Jesus Luna struck out with a runner on second to end the second. Jerin Harper grounded into a double play with runners at the corners to end the third. Robby Scott grounded with a runner on second to end the fourth. Trevor Weedon and Williams struck out with a runner on second in the fifth.
With two out in that fifth inning, however, Joey Burke singled home Luna to cut Bethany's lead to 2-1.
Again, Chico State had numerous chances to tie or take the lead, but could not come up with the clutch hit. Christopher Sweeney struck out with the tying run on second in the sixth, and after Carl Fairburn reached on an error, Harper got thrown out the plate trying to score on a double-steal. Then, with one out in the seventh, pinch-hitter James McCarthy grounded out to third with the possible trying run on third and Williams struck out to end the inning.
Raichart led off the ninth with a solo home run off Chico State reliever Jason Maes to stretch the lead to 3-1. The Wildcats were primed to tie or take the lead in the home-half of the ninth, however, after Sweeney and Fairburn started the inning with back-to-back singles. After Shane Cauley was called upon to pinch run for Sweeney, Scott bunted them over to second and third. Luna was then intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. All Mark Gentry could manage was an RBI-groundout, though, and Williams struck out to end the game.
Chico State opens a four-game home series against Cal State Monterey Bay with a doubleheader Thursday at 2 p.m.
Change in schedule for Monterey Bay series
Due to the forecast of rain for the weekend, the Chico State baseball four-game CCAA series with Monterey Bay has been moved up to a doubleheader tomorrow (Thursday) at 2:00 and a doubleheader on Friday at noon.
04/02/06
Baseball team spells relief G-I-L-L-A-R-D; Wildcats rally from five runs down to win in extra innings
Jason Gillard may be spending a little more time on the mound and a little less time in the dugout in the near future. The Chico State reliever tossed four-and-two-thirds innings of hitless relief as one of four relievers who combined to shut out Cal Poly Pomona for the final eight-plus innings of the Wildcats' 7-6 victory at Nettleton Stadium Sunday. Prior to Sunday's game, Gillard had pitched just twice all year.
Trevor Weedon also made a huge contribution off the bench with a two-out single in the 11th that loaded the bases and brought James McCarthy to the plate with a chance to win it. McCarthy worked the count full and then took Justin Carty's payoff pitch high and inside to force home the winning run.
Chico State improved to 23-10 overall and 10-7 in the CCAA with the win. The Wildcats, one of seven teams within a game of the conference lead, are now one-half game out of first place. Cal Poly Pomona, 13-9 overall and 11-8 in the CCAA, is also one-half game out of first.
Chico State trailed 6-1 after Cal Poly Pomona scored three times in the second and three more times in the third against Chico State starter Ben Buker. Gillard got the final out of the third and then set down the Broncos in order in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh. That gave the struggling Chico State offense a chance to make a comeback, and in the sixth, the Wildcats delivered.
Jerin Harper, Carl Fairburn, and Mark Gentry all singled to start the inning. James McCarthy and Shane Cauley followed with RBI-singles, and then Gentry scored on a wild pitch to make it a 6-4 game. Joey Burke drove home another run with a grounder, and Christopher Sweeney drove in the tying run with a single through the left side.
Gillard was pulled with one out in the eighth inning and lefty Steven Johns got Jake Mandarin to ground out and then Elliot Tyson came on to record the final out of the innings. Tyson also pitched the ninth before giving way to Chico State closer Marcus Martinez (1-0), who tossed a scoreless 10th and 11th to earn his first victory of the season.
John Lee (0-4) took the loss for the Broncos despite allowing just one run in four-plus innings of work. Cal Poly Pomona starter Luis Carreras allowed six earned runs on 10 hits in five-and-two-thirds innings.
Kirk Gross bashed a two-run homer and Chris Janowicz belted a two-run single to pace the Cal Poly Pomona offense. Harper finished 4-for-6 and Fairburn went 3-for-6 to lead the Wildcats.
04/01/06
Wildcats win thriller, lose heartbreaker
The Chico State baseball team experienced a full spectrum of emotions in a doubleheader split against Cal Poly Pomona at Nettleton Stadium Saturday. The thrill of victory? Check. The Wildcats rallied for three runs in the bottom of the 12th inning of the first game to beat the Broncos 5-4. The agony of defeat? Check. Cal Poly Pomona shortstop Kevin Falls threw out Jerin Harper trying to score all the way from first base on Christopher Sweeney's double in the bottom of the seventh and the Broncos held on to win 4-3.
Chico State, which has won just five times in its last 12 games, is now 22-10 overall and 9-7 in California Collegiate Athletic Association action. The Wildcats trail conference leaders Pomona and Sonoma State by only one game, but they're currently in fifth place. UC San Diego and Cal State Stanislaus, both 11-8, have a half-game advantage over the Wildcats. Cal Poly Pomona, which has won 11 of its last 17 games after starting the season 2-12, improved to 13-8 overall and 11-7 in the CCAA.
John Daniels doubled home Kevin Falls and then came around to score on Robbie Carter's sacrifice fly to give the visiting Broncos a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 12th inning of game one. Jesus Luna started the Wildcats' comeback with a leadoff walk, however, and Harper doubled to bring the winning run to the plate. Daniel Code tied the game with a triple to the wall in deep center field, and after the Broncos intentionally walked the next two batters to set up a force play, Robby Scott walked to force home the game-winning run.
Reliever Chris Rodriguez (2-2) earned the win for Chico State. Starter Nick Bryant was not involved in the decision but pitched well, allowing just two runs on six hits in seven-plus innings of work. Cal Poly Pomona's Luis Carreras (4-3) took the loss.
Jake Medrin went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer to pace the Broncos' offense. Anthony Esquer finished 3-for-4. Harper went 3-for-5 for the Wildcats and Code was 2-for-4 with three RBI.
The Broncos blew another lead in the nightcap, but this time battled back. They led 3-0 after the top-half of the first thanks to Medrin, Esquer, and Kirk Gross. Chico State answered back with Sweeney's two-run single to make it 3-2. Then in the fifth, Joey Burke scored on Falls' throwing error to knot the game at 3-3.
Gross quickly untied it with a solo homer to lead off the sixth that proved to be the game-winner. The Wildcats got a rally started in the seventh when Harper reached on an infield single to lead off the inning. With one out, Sweeney lined a double down the left field line, but Carter got to it quickly and made a perfect throw to Falls, who easily threw out Harper at the plate. Mark Gentry then grounded out to second to end the game.
Marc Evans earned the victory in relief for the Broncos. He got the last four outs in his first appearance of the season to improve to 1-0. Billy Spottiswood (6-2) took the loss for Chico State. He allowed four runs, three of them earned, on seven hits in five-plus innings of work.
The teams will wrap up their four-game series with a doubleheader beginning Sunday at 11 a.m.
03/27/06
Wildcats lose series to UC San Diego
LA JOLLA, Calif. - UC San Diego swept fourth-ranked Chico State in Monday's doubleheader to win the four game CCAA series 3-1. The Wildcats were handed their worst loss of the season, 15-4, in the opening game and later lost the nightcap, 4-1.
The Wildcats, currently ranked No, 1 in the West, fall to 21-9 overall and 8-6 in CCAA play. UCSD took over the top spot in the CCAA with a record of 10-6, 19-12 overall.
In the opener, Billy Spottiswood (L, 6-1) suffered his first loss of the season, giving up eight runs on 10 hits in 2.2 innings. Reliever Reid Horton gave up seven runs on eight hits in the remaining 5.1 innings.
UCSD was impressive at the plate, four players had multiple hits, including a 3-for-5, two home run, five RBI performance by Scott Clement. Matt Cantele was 3-for-4 with a solo home run.
For the Wildcats, Trevor Weedon went 2-for-2 with a two-out grand slam in the ninth inning to avoid the shutout.
In the late game, UCSD put up solo runs in the second, third, fifth, and sixth innings for the 4-1 win. Clement had another home run and finished the day 6-for-8 with three homers, two doubles and seven RBI.
Chico's only run came in the fourth when Chris Sweeney led off with a hit to the right side and was later driven in by Joey Burke's single through the left side.
Ben Buker (L, 3-2) took the loss, giving up three runs on six hits. He struck out two and walked two in his 4.2 innings of work. Sweeney had two of the Wildcats' six hits.
The Wildcats return to Nettleton Stadium, where they are 10-3 at home this season, to take on Cal Poly Pomona in a four-game series, Friday-Sunday.
03/26/06
Wildcats split with San Diego
LA JOLLA, CA - The Chico State baseball team had to settle for a split in a doubleheader at UC San Diego Sunday, but with the way Neal Logue pitched in the nightcap, it must have felt a little bit like a sweep. Chico State won the opener 4-2 and dropped the nightcap 5-1. However, Logue came on in relief during the loss and pitched four-plus scoreless innings.
The Wildcats, ranked No. 4 in the country and No. 1 in the West, stand at 21-7 overall and 8-4 in CCAA play. San Diego is 17-12 overall, 8-6 in conference.
Logue missed most of last season with a knee injury and has struggled to find a groove in the early going this year. Prior to Sunday, Logue had a 7.43 ERA in six appearances. But in four-and-a-third frames against the Tritons, he scattered five hits, walked two, and struck out three.
In the opener, Joey Burke, Daniel Code, Christopher Sweeney, and Mark Gentry drove in a run apiece to account for the Wildcats’ runs. Starting pitcher Nick Bryant (4-2) did not allow a run until the seventh inning to earn the victory. Elliott Tyson pitched two scoreless innings, and Marcus Martinez got out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to collect his ninth save of the season.
In the nightcap, UC San Diego touched up Wildcat starter Garrett Rieck for five runs in the first two innings and held on to win behind Byron Grubman’s complete-game effort. Code and Aaron Demuth had two hits apiece for the Wildcats.
03/20/06
Wildcats hold on to top spot in regional poll, No. 4 in country
The Chico State Wildcats, currently ranked No. 4 in the nation, held on to the top spot in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association Division II West Region poll.
1. Chico State (20-6; three first-place votes) 30
2. Colorado State-Pueblo (20-4) 26
3. Fort Hays State (21-5) 25
4. UC San Diego (16-11) 20
5. Cal State L.A. (13-6) 18
6. Cal State Stanislaus (17-9) 15
7. Sonoma State (15-9) 11
8. Nebraska-Kearney (12-6) 10
9. Regis (16-12) 4
10. Western Oregon (10-9) 3
03/17/06
Sweeney swings 'Cats back into win column
CHICO - Christopher Sweeney homered and drove in four runs to spark a struggling Chico State offense to an 11-5 victory over visiting Master's College Saturday at Nettleton Stadium. Before Saturday, the Wildcats had not reached double-figures in runs in nine straight outings. Daniel Code went 3-for-3 with four runs scored, and James McCarthy was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
Jerin Harper led off the sixth with a home run, and after Code singled, Sweeney hit a line-drive shot over the wall in left field to give the Wildcats a 9-5 cushion. Chico State reliever Ben Buker, who entered in the fifth, allowed just one run in five innings to collect the win and improve to 3-1.
Chico State, ranked No. 3 in the nation entering the weekend is now 20-6 overall after taking two-of-three games from the Mustangs this weekend. The Master's dipped to 8-17 overall. Starter Steven Chmiel allowed three runs in the first inning and fell to 1-1 with the loss.
The Master's scored four times in the first four innings against Wildcats starter Neal Logue. The Wildcats got a two-run single from Sweeney and an RBI grounder from McCarthy in the first, however, and never trailed after the opening frame.
Carl Fairburn hit a run-scoring single in the second, Jorge Araiza walked with the bases loaded in the third, and Casey Smyth was hit by a pitch with the bases juiced in the fourth to give the Wildcats a 6-4 lead. The Master's pulled to within 6-5 on Peter Krumeich's first home run on the season in the sixth, but Harper and Sweeney answered with round-trippers of their own in the bottom-half of the inning to break the game open.
Zane Jensen, Phil Seston, J.T. Adams, and Krumeich led the Mustangs with two hits apiece. Daniel Flores was 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
Chico State is back in action Sunday, March 26 at UC San Diego. The teams will play a doubleheader at 11 a.m. and another twinbill at 11 a.m. on the 27th.
3/17/06
Missed opportunities hurt Wildcats in loss to Master's College
CHICO - In a game riddled with errors and missed opportunities, The No. 3 Chico State baseball team came out on the short end of a 4-3 decision to The Master’s College today at Nettleton Stadium.
The Wildcats committed three errors, resulting in two unearned runs and left nine runners stranded on base, including seven in scoring position.
With the loss, Chico State falls to 19-6 overall. The Master’s College is now 8-16. The final game of the series begins tomorrow at noon.
The Mustangs scored in the top of the first when Wildcat starter Nick Bryant walked the number-two batter and gave up a run-scoring double to Phil Seston.
Chico’s offensive power came by way of the long ball with Aaron Demuth hitting a solo shot in the second inning, his third of the year, and Jerin Harper hit his second homer of the year to tie up the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth.
But it was The Master’s College that broke the tie, manufacturing an unearned run in the fifth on a RBI-single by J.T. Adams and scoring a solo run in the sixth on a Peter Krumeich double to take a 4-2 lead.
The Wildcats threatened in the seventh, but Greg Finazzo was thrown out at home trying to score on a wild pitch. They managed a final run in the eighth, thanks to a Mustang error, which prolonged the inning.
Bryant (L, 3-2) gave up four runs, two earned, in 5.1 innings of work. He struck out six and walked just one. Relievers Chris Rodriguez, Elliott Tyson, and Marcus Martinez allowed just one hit among them during the final 3.2 innings.Mark McElroy picked up the win, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out five and walking none. Jeremiah Peters picked up his first save of the year, yielding just one hit over the final 1.2 innings.For the Mustangs, Krumeich was 3-for-4 and Adams and Robert Short had two hits apiece.
Joey Burke had two of the Wildcats six hits.
03/16/06
Spottiswood no-hits Master's in rain-shortened game
Billy Spottiswood did not allow a hit through five innings of work as the Chico State baseball team defeated The Master’s College 3-1 in a game called due to rain with the Wildcats coming to bat in the bottom of the fifth. Spottiswood, who improved to 6-0 on the season, walked two batters, one of whom came around to score in the third on a stolen base and two groundouts.
James McCarthy hit an RBI-grounder in the second and an RBI-single in the fourth for the Wildcats, and Brandon Rauch opened the scoring with an RBI-double in the second to account for all of Chico State’s runs.
Kevin Holt, who surrendered three runs, two of them earned, on three hits and a pair of walks, dipped to 2-3 with the loss. He struck out three batters.
Chico State improved to 19-5 with the non-conference victory. The Master’s fell to 7-16.
The three-game series is scheduled to continue Friday with a single game at 2 p.m., and wrap up Saturday with a single game at noon.
03/12/06
Sunday doubleheader rained out
The Chico State baseball doubleheader scheduled today against Cal State Dominguez Hills has been cancelled due to rain. The games will not be rescheduled.
03/11/06
Wildcats salvage split with Toros
CHICO - Chico State’s Robby Scott got his only hit of the day in extra innings to salvage a split of a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader with Cal State Dominguez Hills today at Nettleton Stadium. A classic pitching dual in game one resulted in a 2-1 Dominguez victory, but the Wildcats came back to win the nightcap by the same score.
The Wildcats, ranked No. 3 in the nation and No. 1 in the West, stand at 18-5 overall, 7-3 in CCAA play. Cal State Dominguez Hills is now 10-12 overall, 4-6 in conference.
In the early game it turned out to be a pitching dual involving Chico’s Nick Bryant and Dominguez’s Chris Bouchers. Bouchers came on in the first inning in relief of starter Jason Garcia who pitched two-thirds of an inning before being taken out by a hard hit ball off his left knee.
Bouchers (W, 3-1) settled in quickly and gave up just one run on five hits. He struck out seven and walked just one. The Wildcats managed to put just one runner in scoring position during the final six innings.
Bryant (L, 3-1) was just as impressive, going the distance for the Wildcats. Bryant gave up an unearned run in the first before retiring the next 10 straight batters and allowed one more run in the sixth. He gave up five hits, struck out eight, and walked one in the losing effort.
Offensively, neither team tore the cover off the ball. The Wildcats outhit the Toros 6-5. Dominguez’s Fred Medina was the only Toro to have two hits in the game. He was 2-for-4 and scored the game-winning run, after leading off the sixth inning with a hit, when Kyle Stanley drove him in with a hit of his own.
For Chico, Mark Gentry was the only Wildcat with two hits. Jesus Luna scored the ‘Cats only run, leading off the third inning with a hit to the right side and scoring on Christopher Sweeney’s sacrifice fly.
In the nightcap, the Wildcats were looking to avoid a third-straight loss, but again the Dominguez pitchers had other ideas. The Wildcats were shut out for the first six innings by starter Ryan Owen, who allowed seven hits, struck out six and walked one.
In the seventh, Gentry led off the frame with a hit before reliever Dustin Gober (L, 1-1) was brought in for the Toros. Williams advanced Gentry to second and Luna drove him home with his second hit of the game for the 1-1 tie and to force extra innings.
In the eighth, Daniel Code led off the inning with a single through the left side and Jorge Arazia did his job, moving Code to second on a sacrifice bunt. Designated hitter Brandon Rauch walked and Scott, who was 0-for-7 on the day, belted the RBI walk-off single.
Wildcat starter Garrett Rieck pitched five and a third, giving up one unearned run on five hits, but it was Elliott Tyson (W, 2-0) who picked up the win. He pitched the final one and a third, allowing just two hits and striking out three.
The same two teams meet tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 11:00.
03/05/06
Baseball team falls to Cal State L.A. in series finale
LOS ANGELES – Former Chico State Pitching Coach Dave Taylor finally got a victory over his old team Sunday. Taylor’s Cal State L.A. Golden Eagles were 0-6 against Chico State over the past two seasons, including 0-3 this weekend, before beating the Wildcats 12-4 to wrap up a four-game series at Reeder Field on the campus of Cal State L.A.. Randall Akasaka hit a grand slam and R.J. Brown homered twice to lead the Golden Eagles’ 18-hit attack.
Cal State L.A., ranked No. 6 in the nation entering the weekend, is now 11-3 overall and 5-3 in the CCAA. Third-ranked Chico State dipped to 17-4 overall and 6-2 in the CCAA with just its second loss in the last 19 games.
Jerin Harper drew a bases-loaded walk and Daniel Code hit a two-run double in the fifth as the Wildcats took a 3-1 lead. But Akasaka hit his grand slam of Wildcats reliever Chris Rodriguez in the sixth and the Golden Eagles never surrendered the lead.
Rodriguez (1-2) took the loss. Wildcats starter Ben Buker was charged with two runs on six hits in five innings of work. Philip Springman (2-1) earned the win for Cal State L.A., and Arturo Reyes collected his second save.
Robby Scott, who finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, was the only Chico State player with two hits. The Wildcats are back in action this weekend when they host Cal State Dominguez Hills for a four-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
03/04/06
Code drives in winning runs in doubleheader sweep
LOS ANGELES - Daniel Code hit what proved to be the game-winning two-run single in the opener and then blasted a pair of two-run homers in the nightcap as the Chico State baseball team swept a doubleheader at Cal State L.A. with wins of 4-3 and 5-3 Saturday in Los Angeles. The Wildcats will go for the four-game series sweep Sunday at noon.
Chico State, ranked No. 3 in the nation entering the weekend, improved to 17-3 overall and 6-1 in the CCAA. The Wildcats have won 17 of their last 18 games. Cal State L.A., ranked No. 6 in the nation, fell to 10-3 overall and 4-3 in the CCAA.
Marcus Martinez saved both games for the Wildcats to bring his season total to eight in eight tries. That’s the ninth highest total in Chico State single-season history and the Wildcats are only a third of the way into the regular season.
Billy Spottiswood earned the victory in the nightcap, tossing six innings and allowing three runs on six hits to improve to 5-0. In the opener, starter Garrett Rieck was very strong, surrendering just two hits and one run while striking out six in five innings of work. Reliever Reid Horton (1-1) collected the win in relief.
Chico State trailed 3-0 entering the seventh inning of the opener. Aaron Demuth homered on the first pitch of the inning, though, and that seemed to spark the Wildcats offense. James McCarthy was hit by a pitch, Greg Finazzo singled, and Joey Burke walked to load the bases. Jerin Harper’s infield single drove in one run, and then Code’s two-run single gave Chico State the 4-3 lead it would not relinquish.
In the second game, Chad Williams led off the first with a double, scored on Jesus Luna’s sacrifice fly, and Code blasted a two-run shot later in the inning to stake the Wildcats to a 3-0 lead. Cal State L.A. knotted the score a 3-all in the third, but Code’s two-run homer in the fifth won it for the Wildcats. The two home runs brought his season total to seven. Harper and Robby Scott joined Code with two hits apiece.
03/03/06
Wildcats hand Cal State L.A. first loss of the year
LOS ANGELES - The Chico State baseball team handed Cal State L.A. its first loss of the season in the opening game of a four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association series today at Reeder Field.
Chico State (15-3, 4-1 CCAA) remains tied for second place in the CCAA with CSLA and Cal Poly Pomona, a half game behind Cal State Stanislaus. Cal State L.A., coached by former Chico State pitching coach Dave Taylor stands at 10-1, 4-1 in the CCAA.
Nick Bryant picked up his third win of the season, giving up four runs, one earned, on six hits. He struck out seven and walked two in his 6.2 innings of work. Marcus Martinez recorded his sixth save of the season with two strikeouts and a fly ball in his only inning.
The Golden Eagles got on the board first in the bottom of the third innings, thanks to a two-out, bases-loaded error in the outfield that cleared the bases.
In the fifth, Chico answered back with four runs of its own and never relinquished the lead. Jesus Luna, who had two hits in the game, drove in the Wildcats first run with a single to left field and Christopher Sweeney plated two more with a single of his own.
Chico added solo runs in sixth on a sacrifice fly by Greg Finazzo, and a throwing error by the Golden Eagles in the ninth.
The same two teams meet for a doubleheader tomorrow at noon, followed by the final game on Sunday at noon.
02/28/06
Wildcat Baseball team drops one spot to No. 3 in the nation
After taking three of four games from San Francisco State to open the CCAA season, the Chico State baseball team dropped one spot to No. 3 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national rankings released Monday. This weekend, the Wildcats travel to face Cal State L.A., which jumped seven spots to No. 6 as one of only three teams in the nation without a loss at 10-0. The Golden Eagles, coached by former Chico State pitching coach Dave Taylor, swept a four-game series from Cal State Dominguez Hills over the weekend.
Georgia College & State jumped two spots to No. 1 and Abilene Christian is ranked No. 2. West Virginia State and West Alabama follow Chico State to round out the top five. Seventeenth-ranked Western Oregon (5-3), No. 27 Mesa State (8-6) and No. 30 Cal State Stanislaus (11-2) are the only other West Region teams ranked among the top 30. West Region teams Fort Hays State and Colorado State-Pueblo are listed among those teams receiving votes.
02/26/06
SF State snaps Wildcats' win streak with 9-1 victory
The San Francisco State baseball team stopped the longest winning streak in Chico State history at 20 games in 2002, and Sunday at Nettleton Stadium, the Gators snapped the third longest streak in Chico State history with a 9-1 victory. The Wildcats had won 14 in a row entering the matchup. Chico State, ranked No. 2 in the nation entering the weekend, dipped to 14-3 overall and 3-1 in the CCAA. San Francisco State improved to 4-7 overall and 1-3 in the CCAA.
Chico State had won 20 of its last 21 games against San Francisco State at Nettleton Stadium, but the Gators scored three runs in the first and then made it 7-0 on Jonathan Combs' second-inning grand slam before coasting to victory. San Francisco State starter Nick DeCampli (1-0) allowed just one run on five hits in six innings of work to earn the victory. Takane Suzuki tossed three scoreless innings in relief to earn his second save of the season.
Chico State trails conference leaders Cal State L.A. and Cal State Stanislaus by one game following the opening weekend of CCAA action. The Wildcats will take the road to face 13th-ranked Cal State L.A., guided by former Wildcats pitching coach Dave Taylor, in a highly anticipated four-game series next weekend.
San Francisco State jumped on Chico State starter Ben Buker (2-1) early Sunday. Jason Dean reached on a bunt single on the first pitch of the game and advanced to third on Buker's throwing error. Aaron Garcia then laced the second pitch of the game through the right side for an RBI single and moved to second when Carl Fairburn failed to field the ball cleanly. Matt Kavanaugh doubled home the game's second run, and after Combs sacrificed him over to third, he scored on D.J. Stacey's base hit.
Combs made it 7-0 when he hit what looked like a fairly routine fly ball to center field with two out and the bases loaded in the second, but a strong wind pushed the ball over the wall in right-center. Bryant Supnet was hit by a pitch, Phillip Girouard singled, and Matt Kavanaugh was intentionally walked to set the table.
The Gators added an unearned run in the fourth and padded their lead on Stacey's RBI-single in the sixth to make it 9-0. Chico State's lone run came in the sixth when Jesus Luna doubled to lead off the inning, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a wild pitch.
The Wildcats had their chances to get back into the game, but stranded nine runners.
Stacey finished 4-for-5 and Kavanaugh was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Fairburn (2-for-5) was the only Chico State player with multiple hits.
02/25/06
Baseball team extends winning streak to 14 games
It's only February, but the 2006 version of the Chico State baseball team is on the verge of making history. The Wildcats swept a doubleheader from visiting San Francisco State Saturday, winning the first game 5-3 and the second 12-0, to stretch their winning streak to 14 games, the third longest in school history. The 2002 Wildcats set the standard by winning their first 20 games of the season. The 1997 squad, which won 15 in a row, is the only other team in school history to win as many in a row as this year's squad.
Pitching carried the day for the Wildcats Saturday, as it has for much of the early season. Billy Spottiswood allowed only an infield single in six innings of work in the nightcap to improve to 4-0 on the season. He struck out six, did not walk a batter, and lowered his ERA to 1.96. Relievers Chris Rodriguez, Steven Johns, and Marcus Martinez combined for two-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless relief. Johns (1-0) earned the win and Martinez collected his fifth save of the season.
Christopher Sweeney homered leading off the eighth inning to break a 3-3 deadlock in the first game. Jerin Harper and Greg Finazzo also drove in a run apiece. Chad Williams scored a pair of runs.
The Wildcats offense was limited to just four hits in seven innings by Gators starter Ben Horner, however. He was not involved in the decision. Instead, Jason Swick (0-2), who saw Sweeney hit his second offering over the left-field wall was saddled with the loss.
The Chico State bats awoke in the nightcap. Finazzo went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, Carl Fairburn homered and drove in a pair of runs, Daniel Code with 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI. James McCarthy went 3-for-3, Mark Gentry was 2-for-3, and Sweeney was 2-for-4.
The Wildcats will attempt to wrap up the series sweep Sunday in a single game at 11 a.m.
02/24/06
Bryant pitches Wildcats to victory in CCAA opener
Baseball team beats San Francisco State 8-2 for 12th straight win
Nick Bryant took a no-hitter into the sixth inning for his second straight start and the Chico State baseball team drew seven walks in an 8-2 victory over San Francisco State in the CCAA opener for both teams at Nettleton Stadium Friday afternoon. Chico State ran its winning streak to 12 in front of the 497 fans.
Bryant (2-0) matched his career high with eight strikeouts and did not walk a batter in seven-and-two-thirds innings. He gave up just five hits and allowed two runs. Chico State, ranked No. 2 in the nation, improved to 12-2 and 1-0 in the CCAA. San Francisco State dropped to 3-5 overall and 0-1 in the CCAA.
Bryant's early dominance allowed the Wildcats to build a 3-0 lead. Carl Fairburn drew a bases-loaded walk and James McCarthy scored on a wild pitch to stake Chico State to a 2-0 lead in the second. The Wildcats built the lead to 3-0 on Aaron Demuth's RBI-double in the fifth.
David Phillips led off the sixth with a base hit, San Francisco State's first of the game, and he eventually came around to score on Derek Simper's single up the middle. The Wildcats answered with three runs on the bottom half of the frame, however. Fairburn drew his second bases-loaded walk, Jerin Harper notched an RBI-grounder, and Daniel Code singled home a run to make it 6-1.
Phillips singled and came around to score on Phillip Girouard's sacrifice fly to draw the Gators to within 6-2, but Chico State salted the game away with a pair of runs in the bottom-half of the frame. Harper and Chris Sweeney banged out RBI-doubles.
Code and Sweeney tallied three hits apiece for Chico State. For Code, it was the sixth game of three or more hits. Harper and Fairburn drove in two runs apiece. Gentry's single in the second extended his hitting streak to eight games. Jesus Luna saw his nine-game streak come to an end, however.
Starting pitcher Kenneth Salyer (1-1) absorbed the loss for the Gators. He surrendered three runs on seven hits and five walks in five innings of work. Phillips led the Gators with a pair of hits.
The series resumes Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
02/21/06
Baseball team moves up to No. 2 in the nation
The Chico State baseball team moved up three spots to No. 2 in the nation according to the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper rankings released Monday. The Wildcats swept a four-game series from Oregon Tech over the weekend to stretch their winning streak to 11 games. They outscored the Hustlin’ Owls 29-8 in the process.
Chico State is now 11-2 overall. The Wildcats will play their CCAA home-opening series this weekend at home against San Francisco State. The teams are scheduled to play a single game Friday at 3 p.m., a doubleheader Saturday at noon, and a single game Sunday at noon.
Abilene Christian (10-1) jumped three spots to take over the top spot in the rankings. Cal State L.A., coached by former Chico State pitching coach Dave Taylor, moved all the way up to No. 13 this week thanks to a perfect 6-0 record. Seventeenth-ranked Western Oregon (2-2) is the only other West Region team ranked in the top 20.
02/19/06
Buker sews up series sweep for bat 'Cats
CHICO - Those weren't boos emanating from Nettleton Stadium Sunday afternoon, they were screams of B-u-u-u-u-u-ker. Starter Ben Buker allowed just two hits in seven shutout innings to lead the Chico State baseball team to a 9-0 victory and a series sweep of visiting Oregon Tech. The win was Chico State's 11th straight.
Buker (2-0) did not walk a batter and struck out five. He surrendered a one-out single in the fourth and a leadoff single in the fifth, but never allowed a Hustlin' Owl baserunner to advance to third base. Chris Rodriguez and Reid Horton pitched a flawless eighth and ninth, respectively, to secure the team's first shutout of the young season.
The fifth-ranked Wildcats improved to 11-2 overall. Oregon Tech fell to 0-4.
Jesus Luna finished 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles to extend his hitting streak to nine games for the Wildcats. Daniel Code was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs and a pair of RBI. Jerin Harper finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI.
Luna got Chico State's offense going in the third with a leadoff double. After Harper walked, Code singled up the middle to drive home Luna. Christopher Sweeney singled home Code to extend his hitting streak to seven games, and Harper scored when Jarred Birrenkott hit into a double play to make it 3-0.
The Wildcats added three more runs in the fourth to break the game open. Again, Luna got things started with a double. He eventually scored on Harper's base hit to left field. Code then doubled home Harper and later came around to score on an errant throw to make it 6-0.
Chico State manufactured a run in the seventh, culminating in Mark Gentry's RBI-grounder that scored Chad Williams to make it 7-0. They capped the scoring with Aaron Demuth's pinch-hit RBI single and Williams' bases loaded hit-by-pitch.
Starter Kyle Kootz took the loss for Oregon Tech, allowing five runs, all of them earned, on 10 hits in three innings.
The Wildcats open California Collegiate Athletic Association play with a four-game series at home against San Francisco State this weekend. The series opener is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday at noon and a single game Sunday at noon.
02/18/06
Wildcats win 10th straight with doubleheader sweep of Oregon Tech
CHICO - The Chico State baseball team continued its winning ways Saturday, running its winning streak to ten games by taking both ends of a doubleheader against Oregon Tech, 4-1 and 10-2, at Nettleton Stadium.
In the late game, starter Nick Bryant (W, 1-0) took a perfect game into the sixth inning, striking out five along the way, before giving up two runs on three hits in the sixth.
The Wildcats (10-2) got things going offensively in the fourth inning, rallying for five runs on four hits, including back-to-back solo home runs by Christopher Sweeney, his second of the year, and Daniel Code, his team-leading fourth.
Jared Birrenkott hit his first homer of the season, a two-run shot to in the fifth inning to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.
Ryan Simpson, as a pinch hitter for Brandon Rauch who was 3-for-3 in the game, produced a two-run single up the middle to score two more.
Oregon Tech (0-3) starter Ty Combs (L, 0-1) gave up five runs on six hits in three and two-thirds innings. He struck out four and walked three.
In the opener, the weather may have been in question, but the left arm of Wildcats starter Garrett Rieck (W, 2-1) certainly was not. He battled some sloppy play in the field, pitching out of some early jams to claim his second win of the season. Rieck pitched six innings allowing three hits, an unearned run, and striking out ten.
Reliever Marcus Martinez claimed his fourth save in four attempts, striking out two in a perfect three up, three down ninth.
Oregon Tech starter Anthony Baca was tagged with the loss for Oregon Tech (L, 0-1) allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits in seven innings. Baca battled tough but spent most of his afternoon from the stretch, allowing six walks.
The Wildcats were led at the plate by Jorge Araiza, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Araiza executed a perfect sacrifice bunt in the eighth inning to set up Carl Fairburn with runners at second and third. Fairburn wasted little time lining a rocket up the middle scoring Kurt Gottschling and Christopher Sweeny for the three-run lead.
Matt Thompson went 2-for-3 with a run to lead the Hustlin’ Owl offense.
The series finale kicks off at Nettleton Stadium Sunday at noon.
02/17/06
Meggs picks up 500th career victory in Wildcats home opener
CHICO - The Chico State baseball team showed why its ranked fifth in the nation in the Wildcats’ home opener Friday against a promising Oregon Tech squad. The Wildcats did all of their scoring damage in the first five innings and counted on solid bullpen production to seal the 6-5 win in their home opener.
Head Coach Lindsay Meggs claimed his 500th career win and eighth straight wins for the Wildcats (8-2) this season. Meggs is now 500-209-4 in his 13th year with the Wildcats.
Starting pitcher Billy Spottiswood (3-0) earned the win. After a shaky start he settled down to pitch six strong innings, allowing four hits, four walks, and two earned runs, both in the first inning.
Marcus Martinez closed the deal with the spotless one, two, three ninth giving him his fourth save in as many tries.
Cory Merritt took the loss for Oregon Tech (0-1), giving up six runs on eight hits in five innings of work. Centerfielder Dan Ordonez was the only Hustlin’ Owl with two hits in the game.
The Wildcats were led offensively by two-time CCAA Player of the Week Daniel Code who continued his hitting borage going 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI, upping his average to a staggering .541. Greg Finazzo’s eight-game hitting streak came to an end, marking Chico State’s first win with Finazzo failing to reach base safely.
Shortstop Jesus Luna took care of business on both ends, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and adding three sparkling putouts in the field. Designated hitter Aaron Demuth also had two hits, an RBI, and scored a run.
The series continues with a doubleheader tomorrow starting at noon and wraps up Sunday with a single game at noon.
02/16/06
Friday's baseball game moved up to 2 p.m.
Meggs looking for 500th victory
The Chico State baseball team's home opener against Oregon Tech Friday has been moved up one hour to a scheduled 2 p.m. start instead of 3 p.m. Saturday's doubleheader is still scheduled to be played at noon, followed by a single game at noon on Sunday. If Saturday's doubleheader cannot be played, two games will be played Sunday. Wildcats Head Coach Lindsay Meggs' next victory will be the 500th of his career.
02/15/06
Chico State expected to capture CCAA Championship
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Two-time defending NCAA Division II West Region Baseball Champion Chico State is the favorite to win the 2006 California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship, based on a vote of the league head coaches.
The Wildcats return five pitchers and four position players from a squad that posted a 42-16-1 record a year ago.
The CCAA baseball season begins next weekend and continues through early May. The 36-game schedule features a four-game series between all 10 teams. Cal State Monterey Bay is playing its inaugural baseball season.
Following the regular season, the top four teams with the highest CCAA winning percentages advance to the CCAA Championship Tournament to determine the league championship. The three-day, double-elimination tournament will take place May 11-13 at a site to be determined.
CCAA Coaches' poll (points)
1. Chico State 79
2. Sonoma State 73
3. UC San Diego 58
4. Cal State L.A. 52
5. Cal Poly Pomona 51
6. Cal State San Bernardino 44
7. Cal State Stanislaus 35
8. Cal State Dominguez Hills 27
9. San Francisco State 24
10. CSU Monterey Bay 9
TOURNAMENT CHAMPION:
Chico State (6 votes), Sonoma State (3 votes), UC San Diego (1 vote)
02/14/06
Baseball team ranked No. 5 in the nation
Wildcats play home opener Friday
The Chico State baseball team jumped four spots to No. 5 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national poll. The Wildcats, 7-2, defeated the University of Nebraska-Omaha, then top-ranked Central Missouri State, and then 15th-ranked Mesa State over the weekend in Las Vegas to run their winning streak to seven games.
The Wildcats host Oregon Tech in their home opener Friday at 3 p.m. That’s the first of a four-game series. A doubleheader is scheduled to start at noon Saturday, and the series will wrap up with a single game Sunday at noon.
Central Oklahoma (1-0) took over the top spot in the nation. Catawba and Georgia College & State currently share the No. 2 spot, followed by No. 4 Abilene Christian and the Wildcats. Other CCAA teams joining the Wildcats in the rankings are 23rd-ranked Cal State L.A. (5-0) and 29th-ranked Sonoma State (6-1). Western Oregon, which has not yet played a game, is the highest ranked West Region team besides the Wildcats at No. 10.
Central Missouri State fell eight spots to No. 9 after losing to the Wildcats over the weekend. With their three losses over the weekend, Mesa State dropped out of the rankings.
02/13/06
Daniel Code named CCAA Player of the Week
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Chico State outfielder Daniel Code has been named the Wilson California Collegiate Athletic Association Baseball Player of the Week for the week of February 6-12.
Code, a junior from Vacaville, earned the award for the second straight week after leading the Wildcats to three wins in Las Vegas last week, including a come-from-behind 13-12 triumph over No. 1 -ranked Central Missouri State (Feb. 11).
Code opened the week with an RBI and a double in a 5-3 win over Nebraska-Omaha (Feb. 10). The following day, he went 6-for-6 with a double, home run, three runs scored and six RBI against top-ranked CMSU. His RBI single in the eighth inning sparked a Wildcat rally from a 12-8 deficit, capped by Code’s game-winning three-run homer in the ninth inning.
Code finished the week with a double, run and RBI in a 12-5 win over Mesa State (Feb. 12). For the week, Code hit .571 (8 for 14), posted a slugging percentage of 1.000, and tallied three doubles, a home run, five runs scored and eight RBI as the Wildcats improved to 7-2 on the season.
02/12/06
Wildcats beat 15th ranked Mesa State 12-5
LAS VEGAS - The 9th-ranked Chico State baseball team continued to roll with a 12-5 victory against West Region rival Mesa State Saturday in the final game of its trip to Las Vegas. The Wildcats scored nine times in the fifth inning to put away the game against 15th-ranked Mesa State, improve to 7-2 overall, and stretch their winning streak to seven games.
Thanks to three errors, three hit batsmen, a balk, and two walks, the Wildcats needed just four hits to score nine times in the fifth and turn a 3-2 advantage into a 12-2 laugher. Mesa State was looking to avenge a 7-6 loss to the Wildcats in the regional semifinals last season, but the pitching staff and defense never gave the Mavericks a chance. The staff walked eight hitters, plunked five more, and watched its defense commit five errors behind it.
Wildcats starter Billy Spottiswood (2-0) earned the win. He went five innings, surrendering just three hits and a pair of runs while striking out two. Ben Buker and Jason Maes combined to toss the last four innings.
Mesa State led 2-1 early on, but Carl Fairburn came through with what was perhaps the biggest hit of the day, a two-out, two-run single in the fourth, to give the Wildcats the lead for good.
Catcher Mark Gentry went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored for Chico State, which plays its home opener Friday at 3 p.m. against Oregon Tech. Jorge Araiza knocked in two runs without the benefit of a hit. Daniel Code finished 1-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.
The victory was Chico State's second in two days against highly-ranked competition. The Wildcats knocked off top-ranked Central Missouri State 13-12 Saturday.
02/11/06
Code red hot; hits 3-run homer in ninth to cap 6-for-6 day as Wildcats beat top-ranked Central Missouri State
LAS VEGAS – Daniel Code’s 3-run homer in the top of the ninth proved to be the game-winner as the Chico State baseball team won an early-season showdown of two of the nation’s top-10 teams in a 13-12 victory over top-ranked Central Missouri State Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas.
The Wildcats led for much of the game, but the Wildcats faced a 12-10 deficit as Joey Burke stepped to the plate to lead off the ninth. He was hit by a pitch and Jesus Luna singled to put bring the go-ahead run to the plate. One out later, Code represented that go-ahead run, and despite sporting five hits in five previous plate appearances against the Mules, they elected to pitch to him. He made the pay with a 3-run homer to cap a 6-for-6, six RBI performances.
Marcus Martinez surrendered a double to lead off the bottom half of the inning, but retired the next three barters in order to earn his second save in as many days. Elliot Tyson (1-0) earned the win.
Christopher Sweeney keyed a five-run first inning for the Wildcats with a three-run homer. Chico State improved to 6-2 with its fourth straight win. Central Missouri State is 2-2.
Chico State will wrap up its three-day trip to Las Vegas with a pair of games against West Region rival Mesa State Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
02/10/06
Wildcats lucky in Vegas
LAS VEGAS - The Wildcats (5-2) face Central Missouri, who they beat in the 1998 College World Series, tomorrow and Mesa State, who the Wildcats have beaten three times in regional play, on Sunday.
Nebrask-Omaha scored in the top of the first when leadoff hitter Chad Leon, who led off the game with a single, scored on a passed ball.
The Wildcats answered back with a run in the bottom of the frame off an RBI double by CCAA Player of the Week Daniel Code.
Chico took the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs on a double by Chris Sweeney and a single by Robby Scott. Joey Burke reached on a double in the fourth and came around to score to give the Wildcats a 4-1 lead.
Jesus Luna picked up the final Wildcat RBI in the sixth inning driving in Greg Finazzo, who led off the inning with a single to right. Luna and Scott each had two hits in the game.
Garrett Rieck (W, 1-1) picked up his first victory of the year giving up one unearned run on two hits. He struck out two and walked three. Marcus Martinez picked up his first save of the season in his first appearance as a Wildcat. In his one inning of work he struck out the first two batters he faced, gave up a hit, and then recorded a called strike three for the final out of the game.
02/06/06
Daniel Code named CCAA Player of the Week
WALNUT CREEK - Chico State outfielder Daniel Code has been named the Wilson California Collegiate Athletic Association Baseball Player of the Week for the week of February 1-5.
Code, a junior from Vacaville, led the Wildcats to a 4-2 record at Hawaii Pacific (Feb. 1-3) to open the 2006 season.
He hit .474 (9 for 19) with 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 6 runs scored and 11 runs batted in over the six contests. Additionally, Code was hit by a pitch three times and registered a .947 slugging percentage and a .522 on-base average.
Code’s 4-for-5 performance that included 2 doubles, a homer, 3 runs scored and 6 RBI powered the Wildcats to a 21-7 triumph in the second game of a twin bill on Feb. 3. The following day, Code drove in 4 more runs on a double and homer to lift Chico to a 7-3 win.
02/03/06
Wildcat take two more from Hawaii Pacific to win series
HONOLULU, HI -The Chico State baseball team wrapped up a six-game series with Hawaii Pacific University with two wins on Friday, 7-3 and 9-1. The Wildcats, who dropped the first two games of the series, came back to win the final four contests.
In the early game, Chico State (4-2) got on the board first in the fourth inning on Carl Fairburn’s RBI double that drove in Jerin Harper, who reached on an error. HPU tied it in the bottom of the frame before the Wildcats went ahead for good in the top of the fifth on a three-run homer by designated hitter Daniel Code, his second home run of the series. Shortstop Jesus Luna hit a solo home run to left center in the sixth and the Wildcats put up two more runs in the seventh.
Spottiswood (W, 1-0), who took the mound for the first time, gave up one run on nine hits and striking out three. HPU out hit the Wildcats 12-8 in the game, but couldn’t come up with the big hits when needed.
In the late game, Wildcat hurler Chris Rodriguez (W, 1-1) allowed one run on seven hits in five-plus innings of work. Elliott Tyson came on in the sixth innings with runners on first and second and no outs. He retired all six batters he faced, including a called third strike to end the game.
The Wildcats scored in five of the seven innings. Code sacrificed a run in in the first inning and two unearned runs in the second padded the lead. Left fielder Joey Burke put a run on the board in the fourth with a RBI-single and centerfielder Greg Finazzo plated two more in the fifth with a two-run single to center.
The final three runs of the game came in the top of the seventh thanks to an RBI single by Chad Williams and sacrifice flies by Finazzo and catcher Lorin Nakagawa.
The Wildcats return home for a few days before heading to Las Vegas to take on some perennially tough Division II competition.
02/02/06
Wildcat baseball team earns first two wins of the season
HONOLULU, HI - The Chico State baseball team exploded for 30 runs on 30 hits in a doubleheader sweep of host Hawaii Pacific Thursday for their first two wins of the season. Chico State took the opener 9-2 and then won the nightcap 21-7 to improve to 2-2 on the season.
The Wildcats, ranked sixth in the nation entering the season, managed only 10 hits and three runs while being swept in their season-opening doubleheader Thursday. But the offense came alive Friday. Jerin Harper, Carl Fairburn, and Mark Gentry knocked in two runs apiece to spark the offense in Game One.
Starting pitcher Ben Buker held Hawaii Pacific scoreless for five innings, meanwhile, as the Wildcats built a 9-0 advantage. He earned the win by allowing just two runs and striking out five in six innings of work.
The Wildcats needed even less time to build a huge lead in the nightcap. The Wildcats scored five times in the first, once in the second, and six times in the third to build a 12-0 lead and led 18-2 after they batted in the fifth.
Daniel Code went 4-for-5 with six RBI and three runs, including a three-run homer. Aaron Demuth also homered and finished 2-for-4 with three RBI. Jesus Luna and James McCarthy also knocked in three runs apiece.
On the mound, Neal Logue earned the win in his first ever start for the Wildcats. Chico State will wrap up its six-game set with Hawaii Pacific today with a doubleheader beginning at 6 p.m. PST.
02/01/06
Wildcats open season with losses in Hawaii
HONOLULU - The 2006 Chico State baseball team, ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll, opened its season with two losses to Hawaii Pacific University, 3-1 and 5-2, today in Hawaii. The games were the first of a six-game series slated with the Sea Warriors.
In the opener, HPU struck first in the bottom of the second, as Michael Kealoha's doubled in the game’s first run. The Wildcats tied it in the fifth when designated hitter Jared Birrenkott opened the frame with a single to center and ended up at second due to an error by the centerfielder. He advanced to third on a single by first baseman Daniel Code and scored on a ground ball.
In the sixth, back-to-back bases loaded walks by two Wildcat relievers proved to be the difference, putting the Sea Warriors up for good.
Nick Bryant got the start in the opening game, giving up one run on four hits while striking out four and walking three. Chris Rodriguez took the loss after surrendering one run on one hit in one and one-third inning. Ramirez went the distance for HPU, tossing a five-hitter and giving up just one unearned run.
In game two, errors were the problem for the Wildcats, which resulted in three unearned runs. HPU again took the early lead in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly. The Wildcats however, struck for two runs in the third inning on a two-run single by Birrenkott to plate Burke, who led off the inning with a single and Jerin Harper who was hit by a pitch.
Trailing 2-1 in the sixth, Hawaii’s sacrifice fly tied it at 2-2, and a perfectly executed squeeze bunt gave the Sea Warriors the lead again. HPU took advantage of erratic Wildcat pitching, including two walks and two hit batters, to add two insurance runs.
Garrett Rieck took the loss, giving up four runs, two earned, on one hit. Reick struck out four and walked two. Matt Burson picked up the win for HSU with two scoreless innings in relief.
Centerfielder Joey Burke was the bright spot in the Wildcat lineup in game two, going 3-for-3 at the plate and scoring one run.
Play continues Thursday and Friday with douleheaders each day beginning at 6:00 (PST). Game can be heard on the internet throught the HPU website.
Hawaii Pacific broadcasts
02/01/06
Hawaii games can be heard on the internet
Chico State's baseball games at Hawaii Pacific University, Feb. 1-3, can be heard on the internet through HPU's broadcast link. Broadcasts will begin at 6:00 (PST) each day. Click on the link below:
Hawaii Pacific broadcasts
01/31/06
Wildcats to open 2006 season at Hawaii Pacific Wednesday
The 2006 Chico State baseball team opens the season at Hawaii Pacific University Wednesday with a doubleheader at 7 p.m. local time. The preseason No. 6 Wildcats return nine players from last year's squad that finished 42-16-1 and claimed the Western Regional title for the sixth time in the last nine seasons. The teams will play another doubleheader on Thursday before wrapping up the six-game series with a twinbill Friday.
Hawaii Pacific will be playing its first game under first-year Head Coach Garrett Yukumoto. The Sea Warriors, who will also be seeing their first action of the season, finished 21-19 last year. They put together a combined 4-9 mark against Chico State's CCAA foes Sonoma State, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and Cal State L.A.
Chico State is scheduled to play its first 10 games on the road before opening its home slate on Feb. 17 against Oregon Tech. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
11/22/05
Highly touted pitching prospect Evan Fields commits to Chico State
Evan Fields, a highly regarded left-handed pitcher from Cabrillo High School in Lompoc, has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Chico State beginning in the fall of 2006. Fields, 6-foot-2, struck out 77 batters and allowed just 20 hits in 43.2 innings as a junior last season.
“Evan is a great get for us,” said Chico State Head Coach Lindsay Meggs. “Freshman or not, I believe he will help us right away. Beyond that, we see Evan as a potential number one starter in the future. We're excited to have him."
According to Baseball Resource Scouting Service, which ranked Fields the No. 18 prospect in Southern California and No. 31 in California, Meggs has every reason to be happy. Baseball American tabbed Fields one of its top 120 prospects in the nation.
06/11/05
Wildcats career saves leader Burger signs with Chico Outlaws
Former Chico State closer Nick Burger has proved himself in the world of collegiate baseball. He ranks second in Division II history with 29 career saves. Now he has a chance to prove himself in the world of professional baseball. Friday, Chico Outlaws Manager Mark Parent announced that Burger will be joining the team for their seven-game road trip in Arizona.
According to the Chico Enterprise-Record, Parent was impressed with a workout Burger and Wildcat teammate Robert Anaya had recently, and in an attempt to shore up a pitching staff that is seventh of eight Golden Baseball League teams in ERA (6.03) heading into Friday's game at Surprise, Parent felt Burger could help right away.
"We looked at his numbers, he walked 10 guys all year and he's got a lot of bulldog in him," said Parent. "He's been in a lot of tough situations."
Parent said Burger likely will not be thrown into a closing role right away, but might find himself in a "set-up role, an inning here and there. He's used to going an inning or two and he's capable of going more. He might come out here and throw well enough to get a start, you never know."
Burger, an Honorable Mention All-America right-hander in 2005, finished with 15 saves, tied for the second most in school history, fanning 30 batters in just over 28 innings pitched with an ERA of 2.86. He was a Second Team All-America selection in 2004.
06/09/05
Ramos named First Team All-American
Krise, Burger Honorable Mention
Chico State third baseman Joseph Ramos has been named First Team All-American by the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association. Ramos led the Wildcats with a .380 batting average and 15 doubles. He also provided stellar defense between third and first base, boasting a .973 fielding percentage. Chico State hurlers Kris Krise and Nick Burger, meanwhile, were named Honorable Mention All-Americans by the Baseball Writers of America.
"I'm really happy to see that the coaches recognized Joe's ability," said Chico State Head Coach Lindsay Meggs. "I can't tell you how many coaches came up to me and told me how impressed they were by the improvements he's made."
Despite playing in a Chico State uniform for just two years, Ramos leaves a lasting mark on the record books. He joins Bao-nhan Vinh as the only player in school history to notch 80 hits or more in consecutive seasons. He ranks sixth in career hits with 164. His career batting average of .363 is seventh best ever. He also ranks among Chico State's career top 10 in runs scored (102), doubles (33), total bases (221), hit-by-pitches (22), and sacrifice flies (7). He's also the program's First Team All-American selection since 1999 and the seventh ever.
Burger, a Second Team All-American selection as a junior last season, actually put up better numbers this year. He finished with 15 saves, tied for the second most in school history, and sports an ERA of 2.86.He struck out 30 batters in 28-plus innings. He wraps up his career with a Chico State record 29 saves, the second most in NCAA Division II history.
Krise, chosen in the 12th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday, put together a phenomenal season despite a finger injury. He finished the year 9-2 with a 2.04 ERA.
06/08/05
Krise, Gonzalez chosen in MLB Draft
Kris Krise and Greg Gonzalez, both key components to the Chico State baseball team's run to the 2005 Division II College World Series, have been chosen in the Major League Baseball Draft. Krise, a 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher, was chosen by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 12th round. Gonzalez, a speedy center fielder, was chosen in the 28th round by the New York Mets.
For Krise, getting drafted is nothing new. He was drafted in the 43rd round by the Diamondbacks out of high school and in the 30th round by the Royals following his community college days. This season at Chico State, Krise went 9-2 with a 2.04 ERA despite a finger injury that lasted for much of the season and limited the pitches he could throw.
Gonzalez swiped a team-high 27 bases and hit .374 for the Wildcats. His defensive capabilities were also very attractive to the Mets.