ARCATA – Gracie Perez faced three batters over the minimum and struck out six as she earned her first no-hitter in a Humboldt State uniform and the Jacks defeated the Wildcats of Chico State 4-0 in game one of a doubleheader at McKinleyville High School on Sunday.  But the Jacks came up short in a pitchers duel in game two 1-0.

The split leaves the Jacks record at 10-10, 3-7 CCAA.  Chico State is 10-8 overall, 7-7 in conference action.

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Perez set the side down in order in the first, second, fourth and seventh innings and allowed just one walk, with two outs in the fifth.  The Wildcats had two players who reached base by error, one in the third and another in the sixth.

“This week I feel a lot stronger,” Perez said.  “We had a couple of days off and I had time to practice a couple of pitches.  It paid off in the game.  Everything I threw was working and it all came together today.”

HSU got all the offense it would need in the third when Chrissy Stalf blasted a two-run home run to right center.  The Jacks added two more runs in the fourth without the benefit of a hit.  They used four walks and a hit batter to score the runs, but left more out on the bases.  A runner's interference call ended the rally with the bases loaded.

“Stalf's homer was huge,” Perez added. “It gave me a little more room for error and allowed me to throw my change-up more which I have been working on.”

Perez improves her record to 4-2 on the season.  Jessica McDermott took the loss for the Wildcats and is now 3-2.  She allowed four runs on one hit, but gave up 10 walks in 3.2 innings of action.

In the second game, both pitchers were on their game.  HSU's Vaneza Hoover took a no hitter into the sixth inning allowing just one batter over the minimum. 

In the sixth Chico State used a leadoff walk, a bunt single and a single through the left side to load the bases with no outs.  Sam Quant then hit a shot to third. 

Lindsay Warren grabbed the ball and tagged the runner going home then threw to shortstop Geneva Perrine who was covering third. 

Perrine tagged the advancing runner and the Jacks had two outs, or so they thought. 

The umpire ruled that Warren missed the tag on the runner coming home.  The run was scored giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

From there Kacie McCarthy allowed just one hit in the sixth and a walk in the seventh to earn the win and improve her record 5-6.

Hoover was the tough luck loser allowing three hits and one walk.  Her record is now 5-6 as well.