ARCATA - Long balls were prominent for the second straight day as the Humboldt State softball team split Saturday's California Collegiate Athletic Association's doubleheader against Cal State Monterey Bay, winning the first game 11-5 and dropping the second 14-6.

The split sees the Jacks' record go to 21-7 overall and 14-6 in the CCAA, while the Otters move to 16-18-1 overall and 10-6 in CCAA play.

"I've been saying all year long that our pitching is our Achilles' heel and it showed today," Humboldt State head softball coach Frank Cheek said. "(Monterey Bay) is a good hitting team, but I'm surprised by how hard they hit the ball today."

Game one saw Humboldt State jump on the board early despite only recording one hit in the bottom of the first. Lindsay Warren's grand slam with one out was the big blow of the inning while Chrissy Motzny also recorded an RBI in the first frame.

Monterey Bay came right back with a grand slam in the top of the second off the bat of Caydi Dommeyer. However, the Jacks responded with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning again off the bat of Warren to move the score to 8-4.

The Otters recorded their final run of the first game in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly by Niki Ames. But that was as close as they would get as the Jacks went on to score three in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run single by Caitlin Klug and an RBI single by Francesca West.

For the second consecutive day, starter Nichole Parada (10-2) went the distance, giving up five runs, four of which were earned, and eight hits while striking out two.

Game two was a different story as CSUMB jumped out to the early lead, scoring four runs in the top of the first. The inning was caped off by a Ames solo home run.

Humboldt State came back with one run in the bottom of the first on a Natalie Galletly RBI single and two runs in the second on a homer by Marissa Slattery.

Ashlee Trotter hit a solo home run to left to make it 5-3 in the top of the fifth, but the Jacks came back with three in the bottom half of the inning on Slattery's second home run of the game to put HSU ahead 6-5.

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Otters would take the lead back in the top of the sixth. After two quick outs, Easton Henrikson and Shae Olds both recorded two-run homers. Monterey Bay extended its lead with five runs in the top of the seventh on home runs by Henrikson and Olds.

Parada, who came in to relieve starter Gracie Perez, took the loss for HSU.

"They swing for the fences," Cheek said. "These two teams are No. 1 and No. 2 in the conference for a reason."

Humboldt State will conclude its homestand against Cal State Monterey Bay tomorrow at noon in a non-conference doubleheader.

Game One
Humboldt State 11, CSU Monterey Bay 5 (Mar 21, 2009 at Arcata, Calif.) (Game 1)
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CSU Monterey Bay.... 041 000 0 -  5  8  2      (15-18-1, 9-6 CCAA)
Humboldt State...... 620 300 X - 11  8  1      (21-6, 14-5 CCAA)
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Pitchers: CSU Monterey Bay - BOYLE, J; MOON, Je(2). Humboldt State - PARADA, Nichole.
Win-PARADA, Nichole(10-1)  Loss-BOYLE, J(5-10)  T-2:00  A-77
HR CSUMB - DOMMEYER, C.
HR HSU - WARREN, Lindsay 2.
Weather: Cold and Cloudy

Game Two

CSU Monterey Bay 14, Humboldt State 6 (Mar 21, 2009 at Arcata, Calif.) (Game 2)
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CSU Monterey Bay.... 400 014 5 - 14 13  0      (16-18-1, 10-6 CCAA)
Humboldt State...... 102 030 0 -  6  7  1      (21-7, 14-6 CCAA)
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Pitchers: CSU Monterey Bay - ROWELL, S; TATING, M(6). Humboldt State - PEREZ, Gracie;
PARADA, Nichole(7); LEWIS, Kristina(8).
Win-ROWELL, S(8-4)  Loss-PARADA, Nichole(10-2)  T-1:2:15  A-65
HR CSUMB - HENRIKSON, E 2; TROTTER, A; OLDS, S; AMES, N 2.
HR HSU - SLATTERY, Marissa 2.
Weather: cool, showers