TURLOCK – Courtney Hiatt went 3-for-5 with a run on the day, but the Humboldt State softball team committed six errors which led to six unearned runs and fell in both its contests on day one of the Mizuno Tournament of Champions on Friday.  In game one the Red Storm of Dixie State beat the Jacks 9-2 and three hours later the Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans took a 2-1 decision.

The losses leave the Lumberjacks record at 13-17.

HSU v. Dixie State Box Score
HSU v. Hawai'i Hilo Box Score

In the second game HSU took a 1-0 lead after Hiatt led off the second inning with a single.  She moved to second on a sac bunt from Kirsten Nouzovsky and came around to score on a Felicia Viveiros triple to left center.  The Jacks stranded Viveiros at third after a line out and groundout ended the inning.

HSU starter Vaneza Hoover allowed just two hits through five innings while the Lumberjack offense got a hit in each of the first six innings but were able to push across just the one run.

In the Hawai'i Hilo sixth, the Vulcans got a runner on with one out after a fielding error by Sammi Gilbert.  A walk put the runner in scoring position and two batters later Kanani Numata singled the unearned run home to tie the game 1-1.

In the top of the seventh the Jacks got a one out double from Serena Aragones, but stranded her at second after a lineout and ground out.

In the bottom of the seventh the Vulcans got a lead off single from Dana Lee.  Two batters later she moved to second on a throwing error by Geneva Perrine.  A fielder's choice left Hawai'i Hilo with runners on first and third and two outs.

A walk loaded the bases and pinch hitter Jessica Schatz followed that with a walk of her own and the game winning RBI in a 2-1 win for the Vulcans (24-10).

Hoover pitched 6.2 innings and took the loss.  She is now 6-9 and gave up four hits and two runs, none earned, and walked six. 

Christina Pedroza won the game by scattering eight hits.  Her record is now 6-3.

Hiatt went 2-for-3 with a run scored.  Others contributing were Nikki Ketteringham, Perrine, Nouzovsky, Aragones and Lindsay Warren.  Each had one hit.  Viveiros had a hit and the Jacks lone RBI.

In Humboldt State's tournament opener, after setting down Dixie State in order in the first, the Jacks had runners on first and third with two outs but couldn't push a run across.

In the second the Red Storm struck. They used a leadoff walk, two errors by the Lumberjacks and an RBI single to score two unearned runs and take a 2-0 lead.

HSU came back in the bottom of the third.  Sammi Gilbert worked a leadoff walk.  Two batters later Geneva Perrine single up the middle to give HSU runners on first and third.  Perrine stole second followed by a Chrissy Stalf RBI single that plated both Gilbert and Perrine.

After Courtney Hiatt singled, the Jacks had runners on first and second with one out, but a foul out to first and a fielder's choice ended the threat.  After three complete, the game was tied 2-2.

Both teams went quietly in the fourth, then in the fifth Dixie State erupted.

The leadoff hitter reached base on a dropped fly in left field and made it to second on the error.  An RBI double by the next batter brought home the unearned run.  One out later a walk and stolen base followed by an RBI single scored another run and gave Dixie State a 4-2 lead.  They would tack on two more runs and lead 6-2 after four and a half innings.

In the seventh the Red Storm used a single, a walk and a three run homerun to close out the scoring and give Dixie State a 9-2 win.

Gracie Perez (5-6) took the loss allowing six runs, one earned, in 4.2 innings.  Kristina Lewis pitched 2.1 innings of relief and allowed three runs.

Stalf led the Jacks with two hits and both RBI.  Perrine and Hiatt had the other two hits for HSU.

The Jacks continue play in the Tournament of Champions on Saturday with three games.