BRISBANE – In both games of Humboldt State's doubleheader against the Academy of Arts, the Jacks took an early lead and scored in their first appearance at the plate. However, HSU couldn't put together any runs in the rest of the first game and lost 5-2, followed by a nightcap that ended in a scoring flux to give AAU a 11-3 win.

The results put Humboldt State at 5-7 overall and the Academy of Arts at 4-9 overall.

Chrissy Stalf (2-for-3 in the first game) started a spree of singles in the first inning, blasting one to right field. Felicia Viveiros followed with a single down the left field line. Courtney Hiatt's hit was just out of the reach of the Urban Knights' shortstop to load up the bases. Dani Randall couldn't get a good piece of the ball and flied out, but Stalf scored by tagging the base to put the Jacks up 1-0.

Alicia Reid, who was the only player to not register a single as her hit, doubled to left center, allowing Viveiros to score and advancing Hiatt to third. Before Humboldt State could grab any more runs, Academy of Arts completed the final out to head into the bottom of the fifth trailing 2-0.

The Urban Knights responded with a five-run rally at the plate in the bottom of the first. With bases loaded, Jayme Stewart powered a two RBI double to tie the game at 2-2. Nicole Smith followed with two more RBIs off a single, making her way to third off a throwing error. Elyse Cordova singled to send in the fifth run for the Urban Knights before Reid grabbed the third out to end the inning.

Both teams stayed quiet in the second as they each went down in order. The top of the third looked promising for the Jacks as Stalf started with another single to left field, however was thrown out in a double play by AAU. Hiatt (2-for-3 in the first game) singled to center field, but HSU couldn't register any more hits, leaving her stranded.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Jacks played some key defense to prevent further scoring as Hiatt caught a runner trying to steal a base. Humboldt State followed with two more putouts to end the inning.

Coming down to the wire and still trailing by three runs, the Jacks needed to come up with some offense in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Claire Hoose walked to get on base, but never made it in for the run as the Urban Knights completed the third out to end the game.

Just like the first game, Humboldt State attacked first. Kirsten Nouzovsky led off for the Jacks, singling to left field. Vivieros joined her on base after getting hit by a pitch. Hiatt singled down the left field line to give Nouzovsky the green light to put the Jacks up on the board first, but the Urban Knights ended the inning quickly after to keep the game close.

Each team registered hits, but no runs in the next few innings until the bottom of the third when the Urban Knights scored two runs off three hits to take a 2-1 lead.

Humboldt State didn't have an answer in the top of the fourth and found itself trailing 4-1 after four innings when Academy of Art scored two runs off two hits, including an RBI triple from Cordova. 

The Jacks rallied in the top of the sixth with two runs of their own, initiated when Stalf reached second off an error from Academy of Art. Viveiros joined her after getting hit by another pitch and Hiatt loaded the bases off a single down the left field line. Randall singled straight up the middle as Stalf ran home to cut AAU's lead to two runs. Tonya Walker stepped up to the plate but was hit by a pitch, allowing Viveiros the chance to bring the game within one run. 

Before any more damage could be done, however, the Urban Knights successfully completed a double play to end the inning still in control with a 4-3 advantage.

Not liking the Jacks closing in on their lead, the Urban Knights responded with a 9-run rally to end the game due to the mercy rule. With bases loaded and no outs, Ashley Lokey tripled to clear the bases to put AAU up 7-3. As Lauren Stover was thrown ball four, Lokey took the opportunity to steal home. Genna Allen knocked a two-run homer out of the park to put Academy of Art up 10-3, needing just one more run to seal the victory.

Humboldt State made one put out, but bases loaded up once again. Cordova ended the game as she singled down the right field line to send in the Urban Knights' final run, giving AAU the 11-3 victory.

The Jacks return to Arcata for their home opener as Humboldt State hosts Chico State in a California Collegiate Athletic Association four-game series. The series starts with a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 24, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 25.