SEASIDE – Humboldt State started sluggish in the first game of the four-game series, surrendering four runs in the first inning and not registering a hit until the third, but rallied in the top of the fourth to stay in the game with the No. 6-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay Otters. The hole proved too much to overcome as the Jacks fell 9-2, followed by a similar 9-1 loss in the nightcap.

GAME ONE BOX
GAME TWO BOX

The losses puts the Jacks at 8-15 overall and 2-13 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. CSUMB improves to 20-4 overall and 12-2 in conference action.

After going down in order in their first appearance at the plate, the Jacks gave up four runs on defense. Cori Reinhardt put the Otters up on the scoreboard first with an RBI single up the middle. Nina Villanueva followed with a three-run home run to give CSUMB a 4-0 lead.

Jamie Moon tacked on another run in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to left field and advanced all the way to third off an error from the Lumberjacks, putting herself in perfect scoring position. Jackie Serna promptly sent her in for the run, hitting the ball just out of reach of Alicia Reid at third.

Tonya Walker was the first Lumberjack to register a hit, singling to right field in the top of the third, but was left stranded. The Jacks tightened up on defense and held the Otters scoreless in the third to make their way back up to the plate.

Kirsten Nouzovsky started the fourth by taking advantage of an error from CSUMB to reach on. Megan Wink pinch ran for Nouzovsky and advanced to second on a passed ball. Chrissy Stalf also reached on due to an error from the Otters, giving Humboldt State a chance to put some runs on the board. Felicia Viveiros blasted a double to center, allowing Wink and Stalf to run home to cut the Otters' lead to 6-2.

The Jacks held CSUMB in the bottom of the fourth, but hold them for long as the Otters scored two runs off two hits in the bottom of the fifth and another run off one hit in the sixth. The seven-run deficit put pressure on the Jacks as they headed to the plate in the top of the seventh.

Walker (4-for-6 on the day) started with a single up the middle and was followed by Reid singling to left field. The runners advanced to second and third on a passed ball, threatening the Otters' seven-run cushion. Sammi Gilbert reached first as CSUMB was hesitant to throw the ball, hoping to keep the Jacks scoreless in the inning. 

With only one out and bases loaded, Stalf couldn't get a good piece of the ball, but reached on base from a fielder's choice as the Otters chose to get Walker out at the plate. Dani Randall stepped up to bat, but also couldn't make a good connection with her bat and grounded out to end the first game.

Humboldt State struck first in the nightcap, scoring one run in the top of the second. Nouzovsky reached first on ball four and advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt from Andrea Chavez. Walker singled deep to right center to allow Nouzovsky to round the bases and give the Jacks a 1-0 lead.

The lead didn't last long, however, as the Otters plated six runs off three hits and two errors in the bottom of the second. The Jacks struggled defensively, surrendering two runs before they could grab the first out. Trying to catch a runner stealing second, Humboldt State missed the connection at second but threw the runner out at third, but not before another Otter scored. Randall finally ended the inning by catching a pop fly, giving the Jacks a 6-1 hole to climb out of.

Nouzovsky and Walker were the only Lumberjacks to register hits in the fourth and fifth, but good defense from the Otters held the Jacks scoreless after five attempts on offense. 

Serna started the bottom of the fifth with a single through the left side and scored off Reinhardt's triple to left center. Needing two runs to end the game due to the mercy rule, Danielle Onken stepped up and blasted a homer over the right field fence, taking away Humboldt State's chance at redeeming itself at the plate and ending the game 9-1.

HSU will have two more chances to grab wins against Cal State Monterey Bay in Sunday's doubleheader action, starting at 12 p.m.