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Senior Day made for an emotional portion of the softball series hosted at University Stadium this weekend.
Posters were hung all along the home run fence and on the Chico State dugout, honoring third baseman Gwen Cox, who wears No. 5.
The series against the San Francisco State Gators was a 3-1 series loss, but the team was led by Cox, who tied the Chico State record for most stolen bases in a season with 25, and doubled home the game-winner for a 4-3 victory in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.
One of the posters behind Cox in center field read, "Gwen Cox Wildcat of the Year." Friends and family members of Cox all donned T-shirts that read "senior" on the front and the No. 5.
Wildcats beat by Gators offense
In Saturday's first game, the 'Cats and Gators battled back and forth, with Chico State matching every run scored by the visitors.
The score was 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, with junior pinch runner Christine Johnson on second base and Cox coming up to bat.
And as it should be on Senior Day, Cox roped a double over the leftfielder's head, scoring Johnson on what would be the game-winning run.
Cox was supported by her cheering squad in the stands as she waited patiently for pitches, allowing her to put the ball in play.
"My first couple of at-bats, I was so anxious and didn't do that well," Cox said. "So I just slowed it down … and I got the hit. It felt great."
Despite a great pitching performance by freshman Jessica McDermott, the Wildcats also dropped game two of Saturday's doubleheader after the emotional game-one victory, with the final score of 2-1.
After the losing series against the Gators, the Wildcats moved to an 18-35 record on the season, with a 6-26 record in California Collegiate Athletic Association conference play.
The Wildcats will host their final games at home against the Academy of Art on Saturday and against Notre Dame de Namur on Sunday.
Despite Cox's efforts, the other three games of the weekend didn't go as well for the Wildcats.
Both of Friday's games went in favor of the visiting Gators, with game one a blow-out as San Francisco State hit two home runs, one a grand slam in the top of the fourth and another two-run shot in the top of the fifth. Game one ended 8-0 and was called by umpires after just five innings due to the lopsided score.
Friday's game two was another scoreless affair for the Wildcats, losing 2-0 as the Gators dominated against sophomore starting pitcher Lauren Walker, hitting two runs against her in the top of the first inning.
That's all the Gators needed as the 'Cats were unable to score, stranding 10 runners on base. The final score was 2-0.
Walker thinks the team needs to put all aspects of the game together, she said.
"Sometimes we have hitting and no defense," Walker said. "It's just bad luck, I think."
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