RIVERSIDE, Calif. – On opening night of the 2015 season, the No. 19-ranked Humboldt State softball team earned a split at No. 23 Cal Baptist.
 
The Lumberjacks (1-1) received a Katie Obbema pitching gem and built a four-run lead before they defeated the Lancers, 6-1, in the first game. Cal Baptist (5-2) took advantage of HSU miscues for a three-run third and went on to an 8-0 five-inning game-two win.
 
"Cal Baptist is a tough team. For us to split with them is good," said HSU Head Coach Shelli Sarchett. "We came out fired up in the first game and things went our way. In the second game, things didn't go our way and we didn't respond well at all. We have to learn to respond positively to rough situations and not let it get to us."
 
Obbema scattered nine hits and allowed one earned run over seven innings of work for the pitching victory. The junior fanned nine without walking a Cal Baptist hitter.
 
Julie Pena powered a seventh-inning solo home run and a third-frame RBI single to pace the Jacks' first game attack.
 
Dani Randall produced three hits including a run-scoring double. Tiffany Hollingsworth added her own RBI double and singled.
 
Cyndi Chavez lined a pair of singles and scored a run. Hanna Holland doubled, scored two runs, drove in another score and drew four walks.
 
"We are going to take both the positive and the negatives and learn from them. It's early and we are still coming together as a team. They know that they have to keep the intensity all day and never let up," said Sarchett.

Game 1
 
Leading off the game, Holland doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch. Hollingsworth drove her in on a double to right center for a quick 1-0 lead.
 
After a Chavez single and Holland walk, Pena and Randall laced back-to-back hits, a single and a double, for a 3-0 lead in the top of the third. Pena made it 4-0 as she raced home on a passed ball.
 
Cal Baptist scored its lone run in the home fifth.
 
HSU added a pair of seventh-inning scores on a Pena leadoff homer and a Holland bases loaded walk for the eventual 6-1 final score.
 
Game 2

The Lancers pushed across three runs in the bottom of the third.  Cal Baptist added a second three-run at bat in the fourth to open a 6-0 advantage.
 
The Jacks had their best chance to score in the top of the fifth. Darian Harris reached on a fielder's choice and Hollingsworth singled with two outs, but neither runner could make it home.
 
Cal Baptist scored twice for the eight-run mercy rule for an 8-0 game two final.

HSU has Thursday off to travel to Las Vegas for the weekend. The Jacks will take part in the Desert Stinger Invitational with five games from Friday through Sunday. On Friday, HSU faces Montana State-Billings at 11:30 a.m. and Central Washington at 4:30 p.m.
 
"We are going into Las Vegas with our heads up," said Sarchett.
 
HSU went 5-0 in the same event last season.