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Box Score 2
MCKINLEYVILLE – Humboldt State grabbed some much needed wins in the first half of a four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association series against San Francisco State. The Gators scored three runs in both games, but couldn't surpass the scoring capabilities of the Jacks as HSU won 5-3 and 11-3.
GAME ONE BOX
GAME TWO BOX
With the wins, the Jacks improve to 14-29 overall and 6-22 in conference, while SFSU drops to 12-26 on the season and 5-19 in the CCAA.
"It's been a long time since we've won a doubleheader," said head coach Frank Cheek, talking about earlier this season when the Jacks beat Dominican. "Last time we hosted SFSU, we took both games on Friday and then they took both games on Saturday."
Heading into the game, Cheek had a feeling Nouzovsky was going to have a good day, and she proved him right. Nouzovsky went 5-for-7 on the day, registering the Jacks' first hit in her first appearance at the plate. Nouzovsky singled to left field to push
Tonya Walker (who had been hit by a pitch) to second.
Chrissy Stalf executed a successful sacrifice bunt to put Walker in better scoring position.
Courtney Hiatt joined the two Jacks on base after taking a pitch to the back. Randall singled through the left side to put HSU up 1-0 after the first complete inning.
San Francisco State answered in the next inning, scoring three runs off four hits. Lucy Fernandez started the rally for the gators by knocking one out of the park. With two outs and Gators on first and third, Hiatt saw the runner at first trying to steal second and threw the ball to Nouzovsky. Cara Spence, who was on third, tried to take advantage and add another run to the Gator column, but Nouzovsky fired the ball back to Hiatt who tagged Spence out at the plate.
Reid, who went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate, drilled the ball over the fence in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to just one run.
HSU held the Gators scoreless for the rest of the game, making crucial defensive stops to stay in the game. Two double plays and a diving catch by Reid gave the Jacks momentum to build their own rally.
"Today, we played good defense," said Cheek. "The defense saved the pitching. Pitchers threw their best, but we had several double plays today and those take you out of innings. They were at critical times, as well."
In the bottom of the fourth, Reid and Walker reached on base to start a two-out rally, which Nouzovsky completed by picking up her seventh home run of the season. The three-run homer lifted the Jacks 5-3 over the Gators to start the series.
Humboldt State got straight down to business in the nightcap, plating four runs off three hits. Reid led off for the Jacks and singled just out of reach of the Gators' shortstop. Stalf doubled deep into the outfield, allowing Reid to hustle around the bases and score the first run for the Jacks. Hiatt joined Stalf on base by suffering another hit by pitch, and Randall cleared the bases with her first home run of the game.
More clutch defensive plays by the Jacks in the top of the second kept the Gators to just one run, despite registering four hits in the inning.
Andrea Chavez caught a line drive and tossed the ball to Nouzovsky for the double play when the Gators' runner on second didn't tag up.
SFSU added two more runs off three hits, including a home run from Spence, in the top of the fourth, looking like the Gators were trying to spark a comeback.
The Jacks squashed any hope for a comeback, however, as they scored five runs off four hits and a crucial error committed by SFSU. Walker started with a bunt and slid face first into first base, just beating the throw. Reid walked to join Walker on base and Nouzovsky loaded up the bases with a bunt of her own.
With one out, Hiatt's hit went straight to the second baseman, looking like the Gators would get the second out and only give up one run in the process. The throw went astray, however, allowing Hiatt to reach first safely and send the other three Jacks home for three runs. Randall drilled her second home run of the day over the fence to add two more runs, giving HSU a 9-3 lead heading into the fifth inning.
San Francisco State couldn't respond with any hits in its chance at bat in the fifth, taking the field on defense once again and hoping to hold the Jacks to get another chance on offense.
Reid singled through the left side to start the inning and scored off a double from Nouzovsky. SFSU's catcher tried to pick Nouzovsky off at second, but her throwing error gave Nouzovsky the chance to reach third and put herself in a more threatening position. Needing just one more run to end the game due to the mercy rule, Stalf found the hole on the left side, past the shortstop, sending Nouzovsky in for the run to finish the game at 11-3 in favor of HSU.
"It was nice to win and on a beautiful day," said Cheek. "We're ready for tomorrow."
The Jacks will be back at McKinleyville High for two more games Saturday morning, beginning at 10 a.m.
