TURLOCK — The Stanislaus State and Chico State offenses kept rolling on Saturday under gray skies and some damp weather, as the Wildcats came from behind twice to sweep a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader by scores of 15-7 and 13-5 at Warrior Field.
 
Stanislaus State (7-13, 5-10 CCAA) scored 12 combined runs on 22 total hits in Saturday's doubleheader. The Warriors have scored five or more runs with 11 hits in each of the first three games against Chico State (18-5, 11-3 CCAA). This, against a Chico State pitching staff that entered the weekend with the third-best ERA in the CCAA (4.48).
 
The Warriors held leads in both games Saturday, but eventually succumbed to the relentless Wildcats' offense.
 
Saturday, the Wildcats scored 28 runs on 26 hits in two games, a day after scoring 20 runs on 16 hits in Friday's opener. Chico State has worn down the Warriors with long at-bats and stringing single after single together. Of the Wildcats' 42 hits in the first three games of the series, only eight have gone for extra bases, all doubles. Chico State drew 15 more free passes (11 walks, four hit-by-pitches) in the opener and six in the nightcap (three walks, three hit-by-pitches) to bring their total free base runners in the series to 38.
 
GAME ONE
 
Stanislaus State took advantage of Chico State's mistakes in the opener, scoring six unearned runs on four errors. It tagged Wildcats starter Cody Gentry for seven runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings, but only one of those runs were earned.
 
Chico State took an early lead like it did on Friday, scoring single runs in each of the first two innings to go up, 2-0. This time, Stanislaus State starter Noah Chelberg kept the Wildcats in check, only allowing those two runs to keep the Warriors in the game.
 
Stanislaus State cashed in on its chance, scoring two runs on a booted ball by the Wildcats with two outs in the third, which tied it at 2-2. Then in the fifth, the Warriors took a big, 7-2, lead. Matt Elser doubled home a run to break the tie and put Stan State ahead, 3-2. A sacrifice fly made it 4-2 and a safety squeeze bunt pushed the lead to 5-2. Then after getting hit by a pitch, Joseph Hauck went on a tour around the bases, stealing second, then advancing to third on a throwing error, and then scoring on another throwing error – all on the same play, making it 6-2. Cole Thompson put a bow on the Warriors' rally with an RBI double to put the score at 7-2.
 
But Chico State answered with nine runs in the very next half inning, going back ahead, 11-7. The Wildcats scored nine runs on seven hits, two walks and two errors in the top of the sixth. It added on to its lead with four more runs in the seventh, making it 15-7.
 
Chelberg performed well in his first career start, striking out five and only allowing two runs in five innings pitched, earning a no-decision.
 
GAME TWO
 
Stanislaus State took another lead on the back of another solid start on the mound in the nightcap. The Warriors scored single runs in the first, third and fourth innings to lead 3-0. Through four frames, Casey Carr had shut out the Wildcats and only allowed one hit with five strikeouts. But Chico State finally got to him in the fifth, scoring six runs on six hits and chasing him from the game.
 
After tying the game at 3-3 with three straight RBI singles, Kyle Dobson sealed the deal for Carr with a bases-clearing, three-run double to make it 6-3. Stanislaus State fought back and made it 6-5 with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth. Jonluke Goldman drove home a run with a single, and Zach Jones brought in another with a bases-loaded walk, but the bases were left loaded, keeping it at a one-run game.
 
Chico State ensured itself a victory with another big rally in the top of the seventh. The Wildcats struck for seven runs on five hits and three free passes (two hit-by-pitch, one walk), going up 13-5 with only one half-inning left. Stanislaus State still didn't give up in the seventh, leading off with two singles, but a double play and a flyout ended the game.
 
Goldman went 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored in game two. Grant Bunker was 2 for 4 with a home run, a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Trevor McInerney (2 for 3) and Danny Murphy (2 for 4, double) also had multiple hits for Stan State.
 
COMING UP
 
The series concludes Sunday with a single game scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. Fans can find all live coverage links on WarriorAthletics.com.