TURLOCK - The Humboldt State softball team, No. 1 in the west region, split day one of the Tournament of Champions, hosted by Cal Stat Stanislaus, dropping its first game to Dixie State, No. 3 in the west, 4-3, and defeating Hawaii Pacific, No. 2 in the west, 8-3, at Pedretti Park on Friday.
The Lumberjacks now hold a 26-9 overall mark.
In game one, Dixie State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Katlyn Peters led off the inning with a double to left center and was followed when Dabney McIntyre reached base on a walk. Bailie Hicken then reached on an error by
Nichole Parada which allowed Peters to score and McIntyre to advance to third. Next up to bat was Haley Schumers whose one-run single drove in McIntyre and placed runners at the corners. After a change of pitchers and a strike out, Kelsey Mendenhall capped off the Red Storm's (32-7) scoring rally with a single RBI double.
During its next turn at bat, Dixie State increased its lead to 4-0 when Peters reached on error by
Francesca West to allow Kylee Higgins to score. Peters singled to get on base.
Not giving up without a fight, the Lumberjacks platted three runs of their own in the top of the sixth. With one out and the bases loaded
Chrissy Motzny started the scoring rally with a single RBI ground out.
Nikki Ketteringham capped off the inning with a two-run single to right field.
Parada (10-4) picked up the loss for HSU striking out one and giving up one earned run on three hits.
Jenna Anderson came in on relief giving up four hits and striking out one batter in four innings of work. Lauren Folta improved her record to 11-1 fanning one batter and giving up three hits in three innings. Reliever Brittnie Whipple walked three and gave up three runs in four innings.
"We had a great game plan when it came to playing against Dixie State," Humboldt State head softball coach Frank Cheek said. "I scouted them on Thursday, so we knew what they were going to do and when they would do it, but we failed to implement our game plan. Consequently we also had errors that cost us the ball game. This was a tough loss for us, but we did not hit the ball well. (Dixie State) has been on a roll."
HSU secured its 8-3 win over Hawaii Pacific in a tie-breaking ninth inning that included six runs and four stolen bases.
Marissa Slattery kicked off the Jacks scoring rally crossing home plate off of a
Lindsay Warren single. Slattery started the inning on second.
Felicia Viveiros picked up the second run as
Ashley Oltjenbruns reached on an error by the pitcher. Next up to bat, Ketteringham drove in two runs on a single and then advanced to second on the throw.
Geneva Perrine and
Natalie Galletly concluded the rally with back-to-back one-run singles.
The Jacks opened the game's scoring in the top of the fifth off of a Perrine double-RBI single.
With two outs, a runner at first and the game on the line for the Sea Warriors (28-7) in the bottom of the seventh Ciera Senas hit an RBI triple to left field. Senas was then driven home to tie up the game off of a Casey Sugihara single.
"This win was horrendous," Cheek said. "But we put on a hitting display in the ninth with solid shots and stolen bases. We went for the win knowing (Hawaii Pacific) would have a good chance of scoring in the bottom. But this win was horrendous."
Gracie Perez collected the win and improved her record to 12-3, fanning seven batters and giving up two earned runs and five hits. Sherise Musquiz (14-3) struck out three batters and gave up two earned runs in nine innings of work.
Perrine went four-for-eight with three RBIs on the day.
Tomorrow HSU resumes tournament play against Chaminade, Grand Canyon and Notre Dame de Namur at 9:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
