LA JOLLA – Another doubleheader, another split for the Humboldt State softball team as the Jacks lost the opener 4-3 but came from behind to win the second game 6-3 against UC San Diego in California Collegiate Athletic Association play Friday.

With their third consecutive split, the Jacks now stand at 7-3 overall and 3-3 in the CCAA. UC San Diego moves to 10-6 overall and 4-2 in league play.

“We made a number of pre-season mistakes both of the bases and in the field,” Humboldt State head softball coach Frank Cheek said. “At times we showed greatness, but we just made too many rookie mistakes out there.”

UCSD got on the scoreboard first with a two-run first inning with Jennifer Habib's and Lauren Chastain's RBI singles to center field to glide the Tritons to a 4-3 win. The Tritons scored their third run of game one when Habib scored on error by Natalie Galletly.

HSU tallied all of its runs in back-to-back innings. Lindsay Warren hit a solo homer to left center to start the third and followed with a two-run blast to the same spot in the fourth to tie the game, 3-3.

“We put her in the second spot today and she had a pretty good day,” Cheek said. “Both her homers were shots.”

The Tritons ended the game when Habib stole home after Gracie Perez intentionally walked Allison May to load the bases.

Perez recorded the loss for the Jacks dropping to a 2-2 record, striking out two batters, walking three and giving up two runs.

Tess Granath picked up the win for UCSD to improve her record to 2-0 as she came in on relief for the last two innings. Chastain started for the Tritons pitching the first five innings, striking out one, walking five.

In the second game the Tritons again opened the scoring, this time on a Jennifer Defazio sacrifice fly off of HSU starter Jenna Anderson.

The Jacks didn't get on the board until the top of the fifth when they scored three runs on four hits. Galletly and Geneva Perrine recorded RBIs in the inning.

The lead was short-lived as UCSD quickly responded to tie the game 3-3 in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run single by Amanda Eliades.

But Humboldt State came back again in the top of the sixth when Galletly doubled home the eventual winning run. After keeping the Tritons at bay in the bottom half of the sixth, the Jacks added to their lead in the top of seventh on back-to-back solo home runs by Geneva Perrine and Chrissy Motzny.

Nichole Parada (2-0), who came in to relieve Anderson in the third inning, picked up the victory for the Jacks, giving up four hits and striking out one.

“We hit the ball hard today but we left too many runners on the bases,” Cheek said. “We're going to be a much better club if we learn from the mistakes we made today.”

Humboldt State will finish its series against UC San Diego tomorrow with the first pitch of the doubleheader scheduled for 11 a.m.

Game One
UC San Diego 4, Humboldt State 3 (Feb 27, 2009 at La Jolla, CA) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Humboldt State...... 001 200 0 -  3  5  2      (6-3, 2-3)
UC San Diego........ 201 000 1 -  4 10  0      (10-5, 4-1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Humboldt State - PEREZ, Gracie. UC San Diego - CHASTAIN; GRANATH(6).
Win-GRANATH(2-0)  Loss-PEREZ, Gracie(2-2)  T-2:05  A-125
HR HSU - WARREN, Lindsay 2.
Weather: Sunny and cool

Game Two

Humboldt State 6, UC San Diego 3 (Feb 27, 2009 at La Jolla, CA)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Humboldt State...... 000 031 2 -  6 14  3      (7-3, 3-3)
UC San Diego........ 010 020 0 -  3  6  1      (10-6, 4-2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Humboldt State - ANDERSON, Jenna; PARADA, Nichole(3). UC San Diego - ZANKICH;
GRANATH(5); SHEATS(7).
Win-PARADA, Nichole(2-0)  Loss-SHEATS(0-2)  T-1:55  A-230
HR HSU - PERRINE, Geneva; MOTZNY, Chrissy.
Weather: Clear and cool