ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The Humboldt State softball team returned to California Collegiate Athletic Association play Monday afternoon as it split a pair of games with Sonoma State. The Lumberjacks took the series opener 8-6 before dropping the nightcap 10-2.

Mariah Tovar got the Jacks on the board with an RBI single in the first before the Seawolves plated two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. A one-run triple by Sonoma's Alee Balanon gave the home team a 4-2 advantage at the end of four. In the top of the sixth, HSU scored four runs and then added another in the seventh to push the score to 8-4. The Seawolves mounted a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh and continued to threaten with runners on second and third with no outs. Lexee Sheiring came in for relief as she retired the next three batters to earn her first save of the year. Starter Jasmine Hill recorded her third win after tossing the first six innings for the Green and Gold.

"In game one, Jasmine did a good job of keeping us in the game and Lexee came in a got the save," said HSU Head Coach Shelli Sarchett. "Even though Sonoma puts runs on the board the pitching staff did enough to keep us in the game."

In the nightcap, Rylie Carlier showed why she is one of the most feared hitters in the conference as she knocked her fifth home run of the season in the first to put the Jacks up 2-0. The Seawolves quickly took back the lead in the bottom of the frame with a four-run inning before a bases-clearing triple from Cameron Kirtlan in the second gave the home team the commanding 7-2 lead. The North Coast squad struggled to find an offensive rhythm as they managed only five hits and eight total baserunners. Danica Grier finished with another strong day at the plate as she tallied six hits and three runs in eight at-bats.

"Game two got away from us right from the beginning," said Sarchett. "We know we can put runs up on the board our pitching staff just really needs to work on staying consistent, limit walks and help keep us in the ballgame as long as possible."

The Jacks are back in action tomorrow for the second leg of the four-game series with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. at Seawolf Softball Field.