Golden Eagles Split Shortened Series With Wildcats

A+sliding+Nate+Alam+%286%29+attempts+to+break+up+a+double+play+against+Chico+State+shortshop+Tyler+Grissom+%2817%29.+Photo+courtesy+of+Chico+State+Athletic+Department

Chico State Athletics/Skip Reager

A sliding Nate Alam (6) attempts to break up a double play against Chico State shortshop Tyler Grissom (17). Photo courtesy of Chico State Athletic Department

Due to heavy rain in the area, the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) matchup between the Cal State LA Golden Eagles and the Chico State Wildcats was limited to only two games, as both teams split a Sunday doubleheader at Nettleton Stadium.

The Golden Eagles were stunned by the Wildcats in the first game, as they lost 7-6 in 11 innings.

Alec Daily started for Cal State LA and gave up two runs on three hits with six strikeouts in six innings.

In the ninth inning, Golden Eagles’ shortstop Tyler Odekirk crushed a three-run home run to left field and extended the lead 6-2.

The Golden Eagles were three outs away from extending their winning streak to eight straight, but everything fell apart in the bottom of the ninth.

Micah Hee, who came in to pitch for Cal State LA in the seventh, gave up four runs as the Wildcats rallied back to tie the game and send it into extra innings.

Reliever Zachary Grande pitched a scoreless tenth as he allowed the first two batters to reach base but retired the next three batters in order.

Dylan Suppan relieved Grande in the 11th, but gave up a walk-off single with two outs as the Wildcats won 7-6 and snapped Cal State LA’s seven-game winning streak.

After the disappointing loss, Cal State LA bounced back in the nightcap and defeated the Wildcats 6-4.

The Golden Eagles’ offense got off to a blistering start, as centerfielder Jordan Myrow began the scoring with a sacrifice-fly to right field, scoring Odekirk.

Then, the Golden Eagles put together a five-run second inning, highlighted by a grand slam by right fielder Adam Gordon, his second of the year.

Starting pitcher Saxon Andross delivered a strong outing for Cal State LA, as he went five innings and only allowed two unearned runs.

Nick Moisant pitched the final four innings in relief for Cal State LA. Moisant ran into trouble in the seventh inning, as he allowed the first four batters to reach base but was able to put away the next three batters consecutively, preserving a 6-3 lead.

It was déjà vu for Moisant, as he was in another base-loaded jam in the ninth inning. He allowed one run but he was able to limit the damage to earn his first save of the season and secured the win, 6-4. The victory also snapped the Wildcats’ 10 game winning streak.

After the Sunday doubleheader, the Golden Eagles overall record stands at 12-13. They are currently in sixth place of the CCAA with a 11-10 record.

The “Black and Gold” crew will be back in action on Friday as they begin a four-game home series against the first-place San Francisco State Gators.

The last time the two teams squared off was during the 2018 CCAA Championship Tournament, where the Golden Eagles eliminated the Gators in comeback fashion, 10-7.