CARSON – After only registering just three hits in two games the day before, Humboldt State turned right around and posted six hits in the first game (three of which were homeruns) and seven hits in the nightcap, including two homers. Although the homeruns put the Jacks up on the board, Cal State Dominguez Hills still walked away with the four-game sweep by beating HSU 7-5 and 11-4 Sunday afternoon.

The Jacks return to Arcata with a 4-5 overall record, 0-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. With the sweep, CSUDH jumps to 9-2 overall and undefeated in conference at 4-0.

The one- and two-hit games were very uncharacteristic of Humboldt State softball, who last year led the CCAA in batting with an overall .306 average. The Jacks came back to their batting ways, doubling yesterday's hits in the first game alone. 

Humboldt State didn't like getting shut out in its first two CCAA contents and responded by striking first in the second inning off a homerun to left field by Courtney Hiatt. 

In the bottom of the third, Veronica Vazquez singled to right to put the tying run on base for the Toros. Jessica Hall doubled to center to send Vazquez in, but was picked off at third by Kirsten Nouzovsky connecting with Alicia Reid. Nouzovsky then caught a line drive and Hiatt caught a Toro trying to steal a base to end the inning tied at 1-1.

The Jacks took the lead back in the top of the fourth, once again due to a homerun from Hiatt. Reid started the inning by singling to shortstop, advancing to second when Alicia Viveiros was hit by a pitch. Hiatt cleared the bases by knocking the pitch over the left field fence to put HSU in the lead at 4-1.

Rogue pitches plagued the Jacks from the circle in the bottom of the fourth. Jessica George walked Daisy Beltran to load the bases. Catherine Brown reached on base due to a fielding error by Andrea Chavez, sending in a Toro run. Chavez didn't let it shake herself up, making a crucial throw the next play to get the out at home plate and prevent further scoring.

With only one out and bases still loaded, George's pitch hit Vazquez to move the runners up and give the Toros another run. In a similar fashion, the next batter up was hit by a pitch to add another run on to tie the game at 4-4. A passed ball in the next at-bat gave CSUDH the go-ahead run. Beltran swung and miss for the third out of the inning, but not before another batter got hit by a pitch.

While HSU struggled from the circle, hitting a total of nine Toros in the two games, the Jacks heated up from the plate, with two different players homering in each game. Viveiros hit her first homerun of the day in the top of the sixth of the first game to tie the game at 5-5. Chrissy Stalf singled to centerfield, giving the Jacks a chance at taking back the lead, but no one was able to send her home.

A bunch of singles provided some spark for Cal State Dominguez Hills in the bottom of the sixth, led by a single to left field from Vazquez (2-for-3 on the day). Hall sent a ball straight back to George, but was able to beat the throw to make it on first. Melissa Pacheco singled up the middle, sending Vazquez in to score. Beltran singled to left to send Hall in, giving the Toros a 7-5 lead.

Heading into the top of the seventh knowing they needed to score two runs to keep the game alive, the Jacks stepped up to the plate. Serena Aragones singled to left center, but was left stranded as the Toros completed three outs to preserve the 7-5 victory.

Just like in the previous game, the Jacks struck first, scoring in the first inning. Nouzovsky reached on base after Stephanie Jimenez walked her and proceeded to steal second with Stalf up to bat. Stalf singled to right, giving Nouzovsky the green light to put HSU up 1-0.

The lead didn't last long as Cal State Dominguez Hills scored six runs off four hits in the bottom of the first. With two Toros on base already, a wild ball four sent Pacheco to first and a runner in to score. Christina Chavez hit an RBI double to put CSUDH up 2-1 and Pacheco on third. An illegal pitch advanced each runner, making the score 3-1 with only one out. Jimenez's RBI single, followed by an RBI double from Beltran made the score 5-1 in favor of CSUDH. Khryssi Steele's sacrifice fly added another run before the Jacks could end the inning with three outs.

Humboldt State stayed with it, cutting the lead to two runs in the top of the third. Sammi Gilbert started the inning with a single to left field. Viveiros knocked her second homerun of the day (and the season) over the center field wall. Inspired by Viveiros' two-run homer, Stalf made perfect contact with the ball to hurl it over right center, putting the score at 6-4 in favor of the Toros.

The Jacks surrendered one run in the bottom of the fourth, but wasn't disheartened trailing 7-4 heading into the fifth. Viveiros singled to left and advanced to second when Jimenez walked Stalf, giving HSU a chance a cutting the lead to just one run. With two outs, however, the two runners were left on base as the Toros' second baseman made a key catch to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth with the Toros leading 8-4, the Jacks surrendered another tough inning from the circle. The Toros, who were hit by a pitch three times just like the first game, scored three runs off just one hit. HSU surrendered two errors and two wild pitches, which CSUDH took full advantage of, once again putting pressure on the Jacks to score in the top of the seventh.

Trailing 11-4, HSU needed seven runs to tie the game and force CSUDH to face the plate once more. Gilbert provided a great start with a double to left center, but the spark wasn't enough as the next three Jacks's hits were each catchable, ending the game at 11-4.

Humboldt State heads back out on the road next weekend as they take a break from conference action and face Dominican and Academy of Art on Feb. 18 and 19, respectively. The Jacks' home opener will be on Feb. 24 as they host Chico State in a four-game series.