STOCKTON — Missed opportunities caught up with Humboldt State's softball team Thursday, resulting in a 6-2 loss to Sonoma State in the opening game of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships.

The loss drops the Jacks into the loser's bracket in the double-elimination format, where they'll face UC San Diego, a 7-3 loser to Cal State Monterey Bay. Because of rain in the forecast, game time has been moved up to 9 a.m. Friday with another elimination game to follow at 11:30 a.m.

On Thursday HSU stranded 10 runners on base, falling to 37-17 overall while Sonoma State improved to 34-21. Gracie Perez was tagged with the complete-game loss, giving up nine hits while striking out six and walking five, while CCAA Pitcher of the Year Lindsay Emmel earned the win, giving up eight hits, striking out two and walking three.

“We hit the ball hard, and we had our chances, but we didn't deliver,” HSU head coach Frank Cheek said. “This is only one game, and we can bounce back tomorrow.”

Humboldt State led 2-0 after the first two innings Thursday, scoring one run in each frame. Pinch runner Megan Green scampered home on a wild pitch by Emmel for the first tally, and Caitlin Klug scored the second HSU run after singling, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt ahead of Ashley Oltjenbruns' RBI single in the second.

Perez kept the Seawolves scoreless through the first four innings, stranding runners in the first, second and third innings. Walks to Ashley Britton and Emmel opened the door in the fifth inning, and the Seawolves capitalized.

Britton and pinch runner Danielle Lowe pulled off a double steal, advancing to second and third, and Jessica Abelia followed with a single through the left side to score one run, with Lowe thrown out at the plate. Abelia moved to third on a wild pitch before Kayla Ledford singled up the middle to tie the game, 2-2.

“What we were worrying about happened. They stole on us,” Cheek said. “Our timing wasn't there. It's something we really don't work on as much as we should.”

Three consecutive hits opened the fifth for Sonoma State, a double by Ashley Sardina driving in the go-ahead run and Emmel's single plating another. In the sixth, Simone Brandalise drilled a two-run homer – her first four-bagger of the season – over the center field fence for the final two runs.