OROVILLE – Justin Joslyn, Clayton Shuler and Ezio Bruchler combined a pitch a four-hitter as the Chico High School JV baseball team stopped host Oroville 9-0 Friday.

The Panthers churned out 12 hits, but it wasn't until a six-run burst in the seventh that Chico put the game away.

The victory set up a must-win game Monday against Foothill. Chico is currently tied for first in the Eastern Athletic League with Red Bluff at 11-2. Red Bluff played Shasta on Friday and the results are not in yet. If Chico (19-4 on the year) is able to get by Foothill, the Panthers will at least have a share of the title, something they have not done in four years.

Early in the game Oroville's Justin Makikas held Chico in check. In the top of the first Stefano DiSano blasted a leadoff triple but Chico could not get another hit.

Makikas worked out of several early jams as did Joslyn, Chico's freshman starter. Joslyn completed four innings and allowed three hits, struck out six and most importantly, he did not allow a run.

In the top of the fifth DiSano again singled. Makikas attempted pick off the speedy shortshop but he threw the ball away, allowing DiSano to go all the way apparently to third. But as DiSano rounded the bag at third he saw that the first baseman did not get the ball back in and DiSano went home for the game's first run.

Shuler replaced Joslyn and held Oroville scoreless in the bottom of the fifth. In the top of the sixth, Shuler singled and scored on Morey Marshall's triple. Corey Henderson then safety-squeezed Marshall in for Chico's third run of the game.

Shuler again held Oroville in check. He tallied two innings while recording two strikeouts and three walks.

In Chico's top of the seventh, Nate Long led off with a single, DiSano reached on an error, and Taylor Hill turned a sacrifice bunt into a hit. Jack Amaro singled to knock in two runs. Shuler then doubled to drive in two more runs. Kyle Twisselman then singled to drive in Shuler.

Twisselman eventually scored on a bases-loaded walk. Bruchler pitched the last inning for Chico and faced four batters. Striking out the first two, he gave up a single then induced a grounder to second base for the final out.

Disano was 2-for-5 with a triple, Shuler was 2-for-4 with a double, Twisselman was 2-for-4, while Marshall 2-for-3 with a double and triple.

Alex Mathews and Taylor Hill played great defense, according to Chico coach Kirk Bruchler.