CHICO - Cal State Dominguez Hills fell in both ends of a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) softball doubleheader to third-ranked Chico State by scores of 4-2 and 5-2, Friday at University Softball Field. Combined with Friday's results, the Wildcats sweep the Toros 4-0 in the four-game series.
 
CSUDH drops to 11-23 overall and 7-17 in CCAA play. Chico State has yet to lose a home game this season and improves to 35-3 overall and 25-3 conference record to sit at the top of the CCAA standings.
 
The Toros will stay on the road for their next matchup. CSUDH will face Cal State San Marcos in a four-game conference series on Friday and Saturday, April 6-7.
 
Game One - Chico State 4, Cal State Dominguez Hills 2
The Toros outhit the Wildcats 6-5, but came up two runs shy in a 4-2 loss. Junior catcher Rachael Sandoval (2-for-2) and sophomore outfielder Jessica Lane (3-for-3) went perfect from the plate. Lane added two runs and Sandoval had CSUDH's lone RBI of the contest. Senior pitcher Alyssa Valinches struck out nine batters in a losing effort.
 
Chico State struck in the bottom of the first with one run. The Toros evened the score in the top of the third. Lane hit and infield single and reached second on junior infielder Jazmin Guzman's sacrifice bunt. Sandoval brought Lane home with a base hit up the middle.
 
The Wildcats took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth inning with three runs. CSUDH didn't go down without a fight and was able to muster one run in the top of the seventh. Lane hit a triple to outfield and came in on a Chico State error to account for the final score of the game.
 
Game Two - Chico State 5, Cal State Dominguez Hills 2
The Toros outhit the Wildcats once again, 8-7, but fell by a score of 5-2. Sophomore infielder Kendelle Messersmith went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate. Freshman infielder Chloe Wenger had two hits and two RBI. Guzman put up two hits and junior outfielder Damari Simon recorded one hit and one run.
 
Chico State scored two runs in the bottom of the first and one in the second to race out to a 3-0 lead. CSUDH cut the margin to one in the top of the third with two runs. Both Lane and Simon drew walks to occupy first and second. The two were brought home on Wenger's double to right center.
 
The Wildcats responded with two runs in the bottom of the third and held off the Toros the rest of the way to prevail. CSUDH left two runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings.