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The Chico State softball team welcomed the Urban Knights of the Academy of Art University to University Stadium for the last two games of the season.
The Wildcats finished 6-26 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association this season, which was good enough to finish in the cellar of the division. Fortunately, the young 'Cats have a lot to look forward to in 2010 with a handful of new talent.
The Wildcats will start to look forward to next season with the seven freshmen and four sophomores seeing valuable playing time this season.
"We are a really young team and next year we will establish ourselves and dominate next season," said junior second baseman Charlotte Honciano.
Chico State history made in game one
Going into the game, senior third baseman Gwen Cox, was just one steal away from setting the Chico State single-season stolen-base record. The record of 25 swipes had stood since 1995. Luckily for the fans, Cox didn't keep them waiting long to see her make history.
Cox led off the bottom of the first with a walk and then stole second, surpassing the record with her 26th stolen base of the season.
She added to the record in the seventh, putting the mark at 27 stolen bases this season.
The 'Cats were down 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth when they started to gain momentum. The Wildcats scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth and added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, scoring the five runs on just five hits.
Sophomore pitcher Lauren Walker gave up just one run and four hits in the 5-1 victory for the 'Cats. This was her 14th complete game of the season.
Wildcats bow out with a loss
The last game of the season was a disappointing close loss, with the 'Cats unable to give freshman pitcher Jessica McDermott any run support.
McDermott pitched an outstanding final game for the 'Cats, giving up just three hits and striking out seven Urban Knights.
The seven Ks gave McDermott 103 for the season, making her the fifth Chico State pitcher since 1984 to accomplish more than 100 strikeouts in a season. Unfortunately, two runs were scored from those three hits, and Chico State could only muster one run in the game. The season ended with a 2-1 loss for the Wildcats.
The freshmen and sophomore players have grown so much since the beginning of the season, said junior second baseman Rebecca Johnson.
The team has the two best pitchers in the league, and they will both be back next year, Johnson said.
The end of the season is always a bit somber, but this year it is even more so, as the team will be losing senior Cox, one of the Wildcats' most respected team members.
The respect she commanded from her teammates was evident when, after her last at-bat, a fly out to center field, the entire dugout came out and gave her a hug individually.
"I'm going to miss the girls the most, my teammates," Cox said. "I've seen them all grow so much."
Despite the disappointing losing season, the team remains upbeat and even had time to sign autographs for a group of little league softball players.
The Wildcat softball team will return to action in spring 2010.
Kevin Bakken can be reached at
kbakken@theorion.com
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