ARCATA – Kirsten Nouzovsky's sixth-inning two-run homer propelled the Humboldt State softball team to a 2-1 win and a split of a doubleheader against the UC San Diego Tritons on Friday afternoon at Arcata High School.  The Tritons took the opener 5-1.

“I got down on myself after I made a couple of mistakes earlier in the game,” Nouzovsky said, “but my teammates picked me up.  It was great to have them behind me.  I had a lot of confidence when I came up.  She threw a fastball right down the middle and I took it out.”

With the split the Jacks record is now 21-20 overall, 10-12 in California Collegiate Athletic Association action.  UCSD is 26-14, 16-10 in CCAA play.

HSU v. UCSD Game One Box Score
HSU v. UCSD Game Two Box Score

The Tritons had runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings. In the first and third they had a runner at third base with one out, but were turned away by three Vaneza Hoover strikeouts and a ground out.

In the fourth, UCSD finally broke through.  With two outs and runners on first and third, the runner on first attempted to steal, when catcher Anna Feick threw down the runner at third broke for the plate and beat the throw home for a 1-0 lead.

The score remained 1-0 until the sixth.  Chrissy Stalf led off with a single, and when pinch hitter Erin Guidarelli couldn't get a bunt down, Nouzovsky was inserted to take over the at-bat.  She worked the count full and then hammered a ball to dead center field to give the Jacks their first lead of the day 2-1.

In the top of the seventh, Hoover gave up a one out single to Kris Lesovsky who was 5-for-7 on the day with two runs and one RBI.  The next batter hit a come-backer to Hoover who turned and started a picture perfect 1-6-3 double play to end the game.

“This was the first good win we have had all year,” head coach Frank Cheek said.  “We came from behind and it was great that Kirsten (Nouzovsky) got the big hit.  She made a couple of mistakes earlier, but I got her back in the game and she came through."

Hoover earned her 10th win of the year by pitching a complete game.  She scattered eight hits and struck out three, while allowing only one walk and one run.

“Hoover threw a great game against a very good hitting team," Cheek said.  "Their first and third hitters had nine hits on the day, but she hung in there and finished the game by starting a great double play.”

In game one, Tritons starter Camille Gaito kept the Jacks bats in check for the first four innings.  She allowed just two hits while the UCSD offense put four runs on the board.

In the bottom of the fifth the Humboldt State finally began to solve Gaito.  Nikki Ketteringham led of with a single.  After a double play cleared the bases, Chrissy Stalf hammered a ball over the right field fence to cut the UCSD lead to 4-1.

But in the top of the sixth the Tritons got the run back on an RBI single off the bat of Nicole Saari, once again push their advantage to four at 5-1.

In the bottom of the inning, HSU had runners on second and third with two outs after an Anna Feick single and a Lindsay Warren double.  But a Courtney Hiatt foul out to the first baseman ended the threat.

A two-out single by Stalf and a Nouzovsky single put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, but the threat and the game were ended on next at bat when a fielder's choice forced Stalf out at third.

Gaito earned the win, her 14th of the season.  Gracie Perez was tagged with four runs and the loss.  Her record is now 9-7.

The two teams wrap up the series on Saturday morning at Arcata High School.  First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. and it is Senior Day.  The Lumberjacks will honor their lone senior, Gracie Perez, in a pregame ceremony.