TURLOCK – Humboldt State went down to Turlock a day before the Tournament of Champions to get in a non-conference doubleheader against Saint Martin's University. The Jacks fell 11-1 to the Saints before rallying to bring the game within one run, but ultimately falling 10-7 in the nightcap.

The losses drop the Jacks to 10-25 overall, while Saint Martin's improves to 16-8-1.

The Saints grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first off four hits, but a home run in the top of the second when Courtney Hiatt blasted one over the left field fence put the Jacks in the game—Hiatt's sixth homer of the season.

A great double play in the bottom of the second concluded the inning, but not before the Saints scored four more runs. With two runners on base, Kelsie McGladrey sent the ball to Alicia Reid who threw over to Chrissy Stalf at first. More concerned with the runner, Stalf tossed the ball to Hiatt to prevent the score. Hiatt saw the runner on second trying to advance and started the rundown with Sammi Gilbert and Kirsten Nouzovsky joining in on the pickle before Reid made the tag for the third out.

After being unsuccessful on offense, the Jacks held the Saints to just one run in the bottom of the third, but time was running out for HSU to produce offensively. In the top of the fourth, Hiatt and Ally Blenis each registered singles, but they were left stranded on the bases.

Saint Martin's went on another multiple-score run in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs off three hits, to put the score at 11-1 and put pressure on the Jacks to grab some runs before the game ended early. HSU, however, couldn't register a hit to end the game at 11-1.

The nightcap started in a similar fashion with the Saints scoring three runs in the first inning. Humboldt State answered in their first at-bat to put the score at 3-1 after one inning. Tonya Walker singled to right field to start the inning and advanced to third after stealing second and capitalizing on a passed ball. Stalf grounded out to first, but allowed Walker to score.

Two hits from the Saints in the top of the third produced three more runs, and three hits in the top of the fourth provided two runs, to give Saint Martin's a seven-run cushion after three and a half innings.

Refusing to go down due to the mercy rule, Felicia Viveiros took matters into her own hands and drilled her fifth home run of the season over the scoreboard at center field—the fence at center field was marked at 210 ft. Dani Randall followed with a single to put herself on base and scored off Nouzovsky's single to right center.

With the game still alive, the Jacks tightened up on defense and kept the Saints scoreless heading into the bottom of the sixth, including a clutch diving catch by Gilbert to end the top of the forth.

Humboldt State pushed for a comeback in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs off three hits. Randall started the Jacks off with a home run of her own. With Gilbert and Nouzovsky on base due to walking, Walker singled down the right field line to score Gilbert and put Nouzovsky on third. A passed ball allowed Nouzovsky to add another run to the Jacks score and advance Walker to second. Rattled, the Saints' pitcher threw a wild pitch to put Walker on third, ready to attack. Stalf sent Walker in after singling to right field. 

With two outs, Saint Martin's right fielder, Madison Davis, made a crucial catch to end the inning and take the wind out of Humboldt State's comeback sails.

The Saints put the ballgame away in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs off three hits, and sealed the deal by grabbing three outs before Humboldt State could attempt another rally, ending the game at 10-7 in favor of SMU.

Humboldt State will be back in action Friday as it plays three games in the first day of the tournament hosted by Cal State Stanislaus. The Jacks first face Central Washington at 8:15 a.m., followed by games against Northwest Nazarene and Hawaii Pacific.