ARCATA – A four-run sixth-inning rally, ended a 23-inning scoreless streak, and gave the Humboldt State softball team a 4-2 victory in game two of a doubleheader against Chico State, Monday at McKinleyville High School.  Game one went nine innings and was a 1-0 win for the Wildcats.

The split leaves the Jacks 11-11 overall, 4-8 in California Collegiate Athletic Association action.  Chico State is 11-9, 8-8 in conference play.

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

In the second game, with a runner on second and two outs in the Chico State fifth, Christine Johnson got an RBI single up the middle giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.  In the sixth it was Rachel Failla who got the RBI single with a runner on second and two outs, increasing the Chico State lead to 2-0.

In the bottom of the sixth the Jacks finally got on the board after not scoring since the fourth inning of game one of the four-game series.

Felicia Viveiros walked, followed by a Sammi Gilbert double to give the Jacks runners on second and third with no outs.  Pinch-hitter Erin Guidarelli singled up the middle to plate Viveiros.  Serena Aragones followed Guidarelli with an RBI single of her own tying the game at 2-2. 

Nikki Ketteringham was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.  The next batter, Geneva Perrine, suffered the same fate as Ketteringham which drove in the go-ahead and what proved to be the winning run.  Chrissy Stalf followed Perrine with an RBI ground out.  After six complete the Jacks had a 4-2 lead.

The Wildcats got a two-out double in the top of the seventh, but stranded the runner after a fly-out to right ended the game.

In the circle, Kristina Lewis earned her second win of the year.  She pitched 1.1 innings of relief and allowed one hit.  She is now 2-2 on the season.  Vaneza Hoover started the game and went 5.2 innings.  She gave up four hits and two runs.

Gilbert went 3-for-3 in the game with a run scored. Guidarelli (1-for-1, RBI), Aragones (1-for-2, RBI), Perrine (1-for-3, RBI), Stalf (1-for-4, RBI), Viveiros (1-for-2, run) and Kirsten Nouzovsky (1-for-3) also contributed to the win.

"We were fortunate to get this win," head coach Frank Cheek said.  "Chico State held us scoreless for more than 20 innings.  We put a pinch hitter (Guidarelli) in in the sixth and they made a pitching change.  Guidarell got a hit, which was key for us.  They made another pitching change, but their pitchers weren't warmed up and you saw the result.  They hit two batters and that was the difference."

In game one, yesterday's hero Gracie Perez, was the hard luck loser.  Perez went nine innings, scattered eight hits while striking out 10 batters, but a ninth inning one-out homer off the bat of Courtney Brock tagged her with the loss.

HSU, which had two chances to score early, managed six hits.  In the first inning Stalf got a two out double followed by a Nouzovsky single to left.  Stalf, running all the way, was gunned down at the plate by a throw from the outfield.

In the third the Jacks had a runner on first with one out, when Ketteringham roped a double to center.  Again, with Aragones running all the way, and the play was at the plate.  Aragones was cut down at home on a throw from the cutoff man, the shortstop.

"I gambled on those two plays because we haven't been getting the clutch hits," Cheek said.  "I thought the second runner (Aragones) was safe, but I wasn't in a position to make the call."

Chico State threatened in the top of the eighth.  But, with one out and runners on first and second, Perez induced a pop out to short and then struck out Sam Quant to end the inning.

In the ninth, Brock took an inside pitch and hammered it down the left field line to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.  The Jacks went in order in the bottom of the inning and Chico State had a 1-0 win.

Each starter went the distance.  Jessica McDermott (4-2) got the win giving up six hits while striking out six.  Perez is now 4-3 on the season.

Ketteringham led the Lumberjacks with two hits in four at-bats.  Perrine, Stalf, Nouzovsky and Hiatt each had one hit.