CHICO -- Chico State continued to work towards a playoff spot Saturday at Nettleton Stadium, while at the same time making the playoff outlook even bleaker for the Warriors, as the Wildcats swept a doubleheader, 5-0 and 3-2, over the Warriors.

Entering the weekend, six teams were jockeying for the final spots in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship tournament, with two of the teams on the outside looking in, going head-to-head in Chico. Heading into Sunday, it appears the chase is down to three teams for one spot. UC San Diego and Sonoma State clinched the top two spots in the CCAA on Friday.

The two losses drops the Warriors' record to 29-18 overall and 14-16 in the CCAA. Heading into Sunday, the Warriors are still alive in the playoff chase, trailing Cal State Dominguez Hills by four games with five to play. The Warriors will host Cal State Dominguez Hills next weekend in a four-game set. A win on Sunday gives the Warriors a chance to sweep the Toros next weekend and slip into the fourth and final spot. Chico State improves to 32-19 overall and 17-14 in the CCAA. The Wildcats trail fourth-place Cal State Dominguez Hills by 1 1/2 games and leads the four-game series against the Warriors, 3-0. Another win on Sunday by the Wildcats and a win by Cal State Dominguez Hills would officially eliminate Cal State Stanislaus from playoff contention.

The Wildcats jumped on the Warriors early in game one and never looked back, as they scored four unearned runs on two hits and two errors in the inning. The Wildcats would add another run in the sixth frame for insurance and the final score. Wildcats starter Joel Garcia threw a complete game shutout, scattering seven hits and struck out five while walking none.

The Warriors had seven hits in the game but stranded five runners and were not able to get the offense going against Garcia. Jake Oketani went 3-for-4 in game one, and Ryan Silver extended his hitting streak to five games by going 2-for-4.

Spencer Snodgrass threw six innings and gave up just one earned run on six hits while taking the loss, moving his season record to 5-5. The Warriors pitching staff did not strike out a single batter in game one.

Game two was much of the same, as Chico State once again jumped ahead in the first inning with two runs, one unearned, to take an early 2-0 lead. The Warriors cut the lead in half with a run in the second inning, and Jacob Thelen led off the fourth inning with a solo homerun to tie the game at 2-2, giving the Warriors life for the first time on the day. Joseph Pilatti went 2-for-3 in game two.

Chico State would take the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth inning by playing small ball. A leadoff single by Eric Stephens and a sacrafice bunt by Adam Arakawa set up an RBI single by Jimmy Dodos to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. Andrew Stueve saw his season record fall to 5-4 after striking out two and giving up two earned runs on five scattered hits in five innings.

The two teams will conclude the series at noon Sunday with a single game at Nettleton Stadium.

Game one
Game two