MCKINLEYVILLE – After taking it down to the wire in the first game and coming up just short at 11-8, Humboldt State couldn't put a string of hits together in the nightcap and dropped 14-0 in five innings to Cal State East Bay.

GAME ONE BOX
GAME TWO BOX

With the losses, the Jacks fall to 14-35 overall and 6-28 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Cal State East Bay improves to 31-20 overall and 17-15 in conference action with the four-game sweep.

Just like the previous two games of the series, Humboldt State put the first run up on the board, scoring one run off two hits in the first inning. Alicia Reid was hit by a pitch to reach first and advanced to second when Chrissy Stalf singled through the left side. Both runners advanced a base when the Pioneers' catcher let a ball get passed her, putting them in better scoring position. Courtney Hiatt sent Reid in for the score with an RBI single, but the Jacks couldn't add to their scoreline before the Pioneers found the final putout.

Humboldt State held the Pioneers in the next inning with Ally Blenis connecting with Sammi Gilbert to catch a Cal State East Bay runner trying to steal second. CSUEB capitalized in the top of the third, however, plating one run off one hit. With bases loaded, the Pioneers took advantage of a wild pitch, but Alyssa Castillo struck out the last batter for the third out to end the inning.

HSU took the lead once more in the bottom half of the inning, posting four hits that were good for three runs. Kirsten Nouzovsky found the hole on the left side for a base hit and stole second on the next pitch. Tonya Walker's single through the left side gave Nouzovsky the chance to put the Jacks up 2-1. With two runners on base, Felicia Viveiros doubled deep to left field to send in the runners and give HSU a 4-1 lead.

Unfortunately, the Jacks couldn't hold onto the lead and surrendered seven runs in the top of the fourth off eight hits and a questionable error. Although Stalf missed tagging Mishka Hamor, Hamor appeared to step backwards to avoid the tag, which would have given the Jacks their first out, but the officials ruled the batter safe. Walker made a crucial catch in center field for the second putout and Dani Randall hurled the ball to Blenis at the plate to catch a runner trying to add another run.

Gilbert started the bottom of the fourth by taking ball four and scored off Nouzovsky's single to left field to put the score at 8-5 after four complete innings.

The Pioneers tacked on another two runs in their next chance at the plate off three hits to take a 10-5 lead.

Still hanging in the game, HSU added two runs of its own off three hits to cut the lead once again. With two outs, Randall singled through the left side. Blenis sent a ground ball to the second baseman, looking like it would be the third out, but the Pioneer couldn't get control of the ball, allowing Blenis to reach on safely. Gilbert singled up the middle, sending Randall in for the first run, followed by Reid's single to left field, which allowed Blenis to score.

HSU held the Pioneers in the top of the sixth, completing a clutch double play to end the inning from a combined effort from Nouzovsky, Gilbert and Stalf. The Jacks couldn't hold Cal State East Bay in the top of the seventh, however, giving up one run to put extra pressure on HSU heading into its last chance at the plate.

Randall started Humboldt State off with a single up the middle, followed by a bloop hit from Blenis that just missed the Pioneers' third baseman's glove. An error from the Pioneers' shortstop allowed the Jacks to load up the bases with Gilbert on first. Nouzovsky sent a ball up in the air toward left field, dropping just before the outfielder could grab it. Randall scored, but Blenis was thrown out at third for CSUEB's second out. Stalf loaded up the bases once more after taking a pitch to the leg, putting the tying run on base, but Lauren Zweigle grabbed an important strikeout to end the game and pick up the save.

In its last home game, the Jacks fell apart in the first inning, giving up 12 runs off 10 hits to put Humboldt State in a huge hole to try to climb out of. However, Reid and Viveiros were the only Jacks to pick up hits in the nightcap. Despite making two great double plays, including a head's up play by Megan Wink, HSU fell 14-0 in five innings to conclude its games at home.

Humboldt State has just six more games left in the season, all of which will be on the road. The Jacks travel to Cal State Stanislaus before heading to Notre Dame de Namur, hoping to end the season on a positive note and give the five seniors (Nouzovsky, Reid, Blenis, Viveiros and Gilbert) the sendoff they deserve.