CHICO – It was an unusually windy day at Chico State'on Saturday. While the talk during batting practice was possibly seeing the deep Nettleton Stadium shrink and become a hitter's ballpark, it didn't seem to worry
Isaac Mullins as the lefty pitched a gem for his first complete-game, giving up no home runs in the Toros' 9-5 game one win. And just when the No. 10 Wildcats were on the verge of winning game two, the Toros rallied in the seventh and scored four to win the nightcap 7-6 and complete the twinbill sweep.
The two wins will extend the Toros' unbeaten series streak in CCAA play to 10. Their last conference series loss was to UC San Diego during the 2019 season finale.
Homefield advantage has been a strength in the CCAA this season, especially for Chico State, which entered the day 17-2 at Nettleton Stadium. While those two losses were on separate dates, the Toros added two of them on one day to mark the first consecutive losses for the Wildcats.
Third-place Dominguez Hills couldn't make up ground trying to catch second place in the CCAA standings, but it did do damage as Chico State slipped out of first place to Cal State Monterey Bay after the Otters had to come from behind down 7-0 in the first inning and beat Cal State LA in game one of their twinbill.
Game 1 – CSUDH 9, CHICO 5
With the winds howling at Nettleton Stadium, it appeared the game was not going to favor pitchers and both teams were going to go to their bullpens. But not the Toros as Mullins went from start to finish and only needed to throw 110 pitches. His impressive day included six strikeouts and no walks.
After both teams scored two runs in the third inning, the Wildcats added two more in the fifth in the fifth.
But it was the sixth inning that became the difference in the game.
Matt Mecate,
Caleb Ellis and
Emilio Barrera each singled to load the bases and
Grant Decatrel won a free pass to force in a run and knock Wildcat starter Cody Gentry out of the game.
Scott Ogrin tied the game with an RBI single and a fielding error hit by
Pierson Loska allowed Decatrel to score in the go-ahead run.
Anthony Accordino would eventually walk in
Eric Smelko and
Alberto Luevano hit a sacrifice fly to give the Toros a 7-4 lead.
The Toros added two more runs in the ninth. Luevano singled and
Caleb Ellis doubled to setup a two-run knock by Barrera.
Game 2 – CSUDH 7, CHICO 6
The first inning was quiet for both teams and it was the Toros who stepped up in the second. Luevano led off with a double and
Matt Mecate singled to put runners at the corners. Ellis hit a sacrifice fly to score in Luevano and
Connor Bell's ground out to second was enough to bring in Mecate to give the Toros a 2-0 lead.
Dominguez Hills took a 3-0 lead on Accordino's solo shot to left field. Despite the wind blowing to left field, Accordino didn't need it as his home run showed to be all him.
Chico's rally began in its half of the third when starting pitcher
Matt Garcia was punished for hitting two batters, which resulted in those runs being scored. Waiting for the wind blowing to left field to become a factor, it came in the fourth when a Jeffrey Ray lifted a pitch to that direction for a three-run home run, giving the 'Cats a 5-3 lead.
Down to their final three outs, the Toros started a ninth-inning rally that stunned the 'Cats. Smelko led off with a home run to right center field to make it 5-4. Ogrin followed with a double to right center and then back-to-back singles by Accordino and Luevano tied the game at five. Following a pitching change, Mecate hit a single into the gap in right center to give the Toros a 6-5 lead. With Temesvary at third, Ellis laid down a suicide squeeze that ended up being successful to build the Toros a 7-5 lead.
Matt Ortiz got the win after throwing 2.1 innings of relief.
Carlos Bracamontes came into the game with the potential tying run on base but managed to get the strikeout for the final out.
The Toros and 'Cats close out this critical CCAA series Sunday at 11 a.m.
