BOX SCORE #6 Chico State 4, Sonoma State 3 -- Box Score

ROHNERT PARK -- In a series between the top two teams in the conference that will ultimately decide the regular season champion, Sonoma State got off on the right foot, giving senior ace George Asmus a three-run cushion in the third inning, but visiting Chico State rallied to score four runs over the next four innings before holding on to beat the host Seawolves, 4-3, in the first game of a four-game series on Friday at Seawolf Diamond. 

Sonoma, which needs two wins in its final three games to grab at least a share of the regular season title, falls to 25-13 overall and 22-7 in the CCAA.  Chico needs two wins to win the regular season title outright, improving to 36-9 overall and 28-8 in conference play.

The Seawolves took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning and it started with Steven Moen reaching on a throwing error and a double by Justin Serrao to lead it off.  Jourdan Weiks singled up the middle to bring home Moen for the 1-0 lead before Serrao came home on a wild pitch several pitches later for the 2-0 lead.  Later in the inning, Weiks, who got to second base on the wild pitch that scored Serrao, took third on a balk by Chico State pitcher Derek Sesma and, with one out, came home to score on a sacrifice fly by Eric Ehlow for the third SSU run.

Chico State responded with two runs of its own in its next at bat off of Asmus, who entered the day giving up just four earned runs in 62 innings, and not more than one in any previous appearance.  However, a leadoff single, followed by a double, then with one out, an RBI single and a sacrifice fly put Chico State down by one run at 3-2.  The Wildcats then knotted the game up at 3-3 in the top of the fifth on an RBI single.

In the top of the seventh, Chico would take the lead when Ruben Padilla scored Eric Angerer on an RBI single to right field, chasing Asmus from the game.  Devin Alexander came on retire the final seven Chico State batters in the game, putting the game in the hands of the offense.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Seawolves got the leadoff batter aboard via a walk to Ehlow, but a pop up and a double play ended the inning.  In the bottom of the ninth and with two outs, Wildcats closer Luke Barker struckout Serrao in what should have been the end of the game, but the wild pitch on strike three allowed Serrao to reach first base.  Cameron Merriwether ran for Serrao and stole second, putting the tying run in scoring position, but Barker struckout Weiks to end the game.

Asmus (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing 10 hits and four runs (all earned), with one walk and two strikeouts.  Offensively, Moen led the team with two hits, going 2 for 4 with a run scored.  Five other Seawolves recorded a base hit to total seven for the game.

Chico's Robert Hook (6-0) got the win in relief; he went two and two-thirds innings and allowed one hit.  Barker earned his 13th save of the season.  Ryne Clark, Angerer, Padilla and Ryan McClellan had two hits apiece for the Wildcats, who had 10 in the ballgame, all off of Asmus.

Sonoma State and Chico State will play two games on Saturday at 11:00 am before wrapping up the regular season on Sunday at Raley Field in Sacramento for the Third Annual Capital City Clash.  Saturday's doubleheader will serve as Senior Day for the Seawolves, as 11 seniors will be honored prior to the start of the twinbill.