ARCATA, Calif. – Humboldt State softball closed its first California Collegiate Athletic Association home series with a doubleheader split against Cal State San Bernardino Saturday. The Lumberjacks won game one 5-2, and dropped the nightcap 5-4.
 
With the split, the Jacks move to 11-8 overall and 8-4 in the CCAA. The Coyotes move to 10-13 overall and 2-8 in conference play.
 
Despite a comeback attempt in game two, HSU was unable to get the sweep for the second day in a row.
 
"It shouldn't take us two games to adjust to a pitcher," said HSU Head Coach Shelli Sarchett. "We are better hitters than that. We need to start adjusting faster, and our bottom of the lineup has to start coming through. Somebody has to step up in there."
 
Hanna Holland went 3-for-6 on the day, and compiled her 16th and 17th steals of the season for the Green and Gold.
 
HSU's Katie Obbema got back in the win column after throwing a complete game in the opener. She struck out two and gave up two runs in seven innings pitched.
 
All-American Nicole Nobbe had a stellar day for San Bernardino, and went 5-for-7 with a double and a stolen base.
 
The Coyotes outhit the home team 15-13 on the second day of the series.
 
The Jacks will try to re-group when the Academy of the Arts visits the North Coast Monday. First pitch for the twinbill is set for 12:30 p.m.
 
GAME ONE
 
HSU got on the board in the first inning, even before recording its first hit. Holland took a leadoff walk, stole second and turned the free pass into a run. She came home following a throwing error from behind the plate.
 
Kelly Sonnemann had the hit of the day in the bottom of the second, as she sent a monster shot over the scoreboard in left field and into the forest for her first home run of the season. The two-run bomb scored Halle Williams, who was in for the injured Cyndi Chavez, to give the Jacks a 3-0 lead.
 
The Green and Gold's defense was on point in game one – especially during the top of the second when Dani Randall nabbed Cassandra Williams' rocket to left field.
 
In the top half of the fifth San Bernardino's Melissa Roberts sent an RBI double into right field to score Mary Menicucci and Monica Maddox and bring the Coyotes to within two.
 
But Sonnemann's double off the centerfield fence brought home two insurance runs for the Jacks in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Obbema was able to bounce back after three tough outings. The righty improved to 5-5 on the season.
 
"Katie needed that. We needed that," Sarchett said about the game one win. "She had all her pitches really working. She gave up one hit that had some RBI to it. But she was able to get the outs when she needed to. She trusted her defense, and they did a great job in the first game and really helped her out of some jams."
 
GAME TWO
 
Humboldt State scored the first and last runs in game two, but it wouldn't be enough to get the day-two sweep against San Bernardino.
 
The Jacks looked off balanced against starting pitcher Jamie Nelson, who held the Green and Gold to four runs on seven hits.
 
"The bottom of the lineup needs to start producing," Sarchett said. "Today, I took the opportunity to sub. We had a lot of subs today because I had to. I have to see who can produce. I have to see who's going to be in it. If I have to put in a freshman for a senior, then I have to do it – or a sophomore for a junior. A starter for a non-starter. Whatever it might be. We've got to find some production in the bottom of the lineup. It's as simple as that."
 
Holland scored two runs for Humboldt State ­– one in the first, off Randall's RBI single to left field, and another in the fifth, off Darian Harris' RBI single to centerfield. Harris scored on the next at-bat off Tiffany Hollingsworth's double. Hannah Williams added a run in the bottom half of the second with a solo homer to center.
 
The Coyotes' five runs came in the second and third innings.
 
Roberts and Kaylee Gemmell scored off a bobble and overthrow from Halle Williams after they doubled and walked, respectively.
 
In the third, Victoria Lievanos hit her first home run of the season, scoring Nobbe.
 
"Madison Williams didn't pitch badly, but it was a matter of one error that cost us two runs," Sarchett said. "But whether we have that error or we don't, we still have to be able to come back from the things that go against us."