Box Scores
Game 1
Game 2

TURLOCK — Despite losing both games, the youthful Cal State Stanislaus softball team grew-up a lot before Chico State completed the four-game series sweep with 5-3 and 1-0 wins on Monday.

Two dropped fly balls in the outfield were the major differences in the twinbill as the Warriors fell to 7-13 overall and 4-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

The hot Chico State bats were limited compared to Sunday's games. However, the Wildcats improved to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play.

Against the solid hitting Chico team, which entered the day as the CCAA's top offensive team with a .328 average, the Warrior pitchers denied the opponents the big hit. Chico State, which had 22 runs on 26 hits and 11 extra-base hits on Sunday, was held down to six runs on 15 hits with a double and a homer on Monday.

Stanislaus starters sophomore Brittani Weatherford and freshman Kristan Burns both threw well. They got out of many jams to keep the Warriors in the game.

However, the offense couldn't do enough against Chico's Sam Baker and Jessica McDermott on the day. In all, Stanislaus managed three runs on 11 hits.

Defensively, the Warriors also matured -- especially in the infield. Brittney Rickles, a freshman from Hughson, and sophomore Sarah Locarnini switched middle infield positions a week ago. On Sunday, they combined for three miscues that led to Chico runs. On Monday, the duo played flawless defense, especially with Rickles showing range and a strong arm.

In the opener today, Chico State put up a four-spot caused by a two-run double by Jackie Munoz. Two more runs scored via a dropped fly ball in left field. The Wildcats added a fifth run in the third on a Rachel Failla homer to left.

Stanislaus got a run back in the second -- on a RBI single by Burns -- and two runs in the third with a two-run single by Jordan Flora to make it 5-3. Burns finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate. Locarnini also had two hits.

Other than the homerun and double, Weatherford scattered seven other singles but was able to get out of Wildcat threats. After the first inning, Chico went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Weatherford stranded three Chico runners at third base, including the seventh. With nobody out with runners at second and third, Weatherford retired three straight with a grounder, a strikeout and a pop-up, to end the inning.

Sam Baker, the current CCAA pitcher of the week, improved to 6-0. Baker, who entered the weekend with a 0.33 ERA, gave up three runs on eight hits in the complete game.

In the nightcap, Burns tossed another gem in her start in the circle. The freshman from Vanden High School in Fairfield, threw a complete game and gave up just one unearned run on six hits.

Unfortunately for Burns, the Warriors squandered scoring chances and could not push across a couple of runs. Stanislaus left the bags full in the first after receiving three walks off McDermott. The Warriors didn't pick up a hit until the fifth inning and a two-out rally in the seventh also fell short.

Chico State scored its lone run in the first on a dropped fly ball in right field. Sophomore third baseman Flora cut down a run at the plate with the bases loaded. With the bags still full of Wildcats, Burns got a couple of infield grounders to prevent further damage.

Stanislaus also erased a Chico run at the plate in the fifth, this time from Rickles. In the Chico seventh, with the bases loaded again on two singles and a walk, Burns got Diana Payan to pop up to end that threat.

The Warriors will continue their development with a four-game set this weekend at home versus Cal State East Bay. The first twinbill is Friday starting at 1 p.m.