ARCATA – In four games, Humboldt State posted 51 hits, including 14 home runs and six doubles, against No. 3-ranked Chico State Wildcats. With six Lumberjacks hitting above .300, HSU is capable of doing damage on offense and hopes to carry the heat through the weekend at Sonoma State. HSU and SSU will play two doubleheaders, starting Friday at 12 p.m., followed by Saturday's action starting at 11 a.m.

The Jacks currently stand at 7-10 overall, 1-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, entering the four-game series against the Seawolves. Sonoma State sits 13-4 overall and 5-3 in conference, hoping to build momentum after beating Cal State East Bay 8-2 and 7-0.

Head-to-Head

Humboldt State and Sonoma State are very familiar foes having faced each other in over contests. Last year, the two teams split the four-game series with each side grabbing a pair of victories. HSU won the first game 3-1, but fell 7-0 in the nightcap of the first doubleheader. The following day with the score tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth, Geneva Perrine homered to win the game for the Jacks.

Weather Report

The weather forecast for the weekend in Rohnert Park is predicted to be in the 60s with sunshine. Like Arcata, Rohnert Park has been getting some rain over the past couple days, which is expected to end Thursday night. 

Multimedia

Live stats and play-by-play from Sonoma State's Tyler Lobe will be available through the Seawolves website at http://sonomaseawolves.com/sports/2011/11/13/SB_1113113013.aspx?path=softball.

Lumberjack Notes

Humboldt State has six batters averaging over 300, led by Chrissy Stalf's .500 average, putting her second in the conference's list of leaders. Alicia Reid blasted an impressive four home runs against the Wildcats to put her second in the CCAA for most homers and earn herself CCAA Player of the Week recognition. 

"You have to love the way Reid's hitting the ball," said head coach Frank Cheek about his No. 2 spot on the lineup, typically a spot reserved for a good bunter. 

Reid's .420 batting averages sits just behind Felicia Viveiros' .438 average to round out the top three hitters for the Jacks. Freshman Dani Randall leads the conference in number of RBIs with 30 and averages .357 at the plate. Kirsten Nouzovsky and Courtney Hiatt both picked up a home run against Chico State and currently average .339 and .327, respectively.

Defense has been a challenge this year for Humboldt State. The Jacks have committed 32 errors as a team, compared to the two errors it has forced on their opponents.

Yet Cheek knows his team is capable of great defense and even witnessed it against Chico State. With bases loaded in the top of the ninth, Humboldt State perfectly executed a triple play to keep the Wildcats from scoring. Randall caught a fly ball in center field and rocketed the ball to home plate to get the runner out on the play. Hiatt then threw the ball to Nouzovsky who teamed up with Andrea Chavez to run down the third out.

"That triple play was the best play I've ever seen at Humboldt State," said Cheek. "It was flawless and they made it look easy. I thought we were going to win after that."

Unfortunately for the Jacks, the Wildcats' top pitcher saved the game for Chico State, grabbing two crucial strikeouts to keep Humboldt State scoreless and preserve the win. The Jacks, however, have struggled from the circle, averaging a collective 6.87 ERA and have only struck out 37 batters, a fraction of their opponents' 73 strikeouts. On paper, HSU's pitching staff looks bad, but Cheek knows his pitchers fought hard against a good offensive effort from Chico State.

"They're better pitchers than that," said Cheek. "Chico State has an exceptional hitting team, but I know our pitchers are capable of doing better."

Seawolf Notes

Five of Sonoma State's top batters average over .350 at the plate, with three hitting in the 400s. Freshman Samantha Lepp has started her collegiate career on a good foot and leads the Seawolves with a .452 average, fifth highest in the CCAA. Skylynn Myers also has a powerful bat and has improved from a .289 average last year to batting .429 this season. Defensively, Myers has a keen sense behind the plate and is capable of picking off runners trying to steal bases on her watch. Shannon Kehr bats just under 300, but has a high slugging percentage and has already knocked six home runs out of the park. ... From the circle, Samantha Lipperd throws with a 1.42 ERA and has won nine games with only one loss. Lipperd has struck out 81 batters in 13 appearances on the rubber.