TURLOCK, Calif. – Opening day of the Tournament of Champions proved to be a big one for Humboldt State softball as it earned victories over Montana State Billings and Concordia (Ore.). HSU topped the Yellowjackets, 3-1, in the first game and finished with a 5-4 victory over the Cavaliers.
Billings struck first in the early game as leadoff batter Cailee Morgan reached on a triple and scored off a sacrifice fly from Rylan Austin. The North Coast squad tied the ballgame in the top of the third as Grier doubled to left centerfield, advanced on an error, and scored on a wild pitch two batters later.
Mariah Kalamaras gave the Jacks the lead with an RBI double down the third base line while a one-run
Haley Suter single up the middle gave HSU the 3-1 advantage. The Green and Gold tallied 11 hits and the bottom of the order, including
JoAna Mullins,
Micaela Harris, and Suter went 2-for-3 at the dish.
Sophomore pitcher
Lexee Sheiring turned in one of her best performances of the season as she tossed a complete game and allowed one earned run, three hits, and punched out four. The Lincoln, Calif., native earned her third victory of the year.
In the afternoon game, HSU found itself trailing 3-0 at the end of the fourth before a five-run rally in the bottom of the fifth gave the Jacks life. Mullins scored the Green and Gold's first run following an obstruction call from the catcher before a bases-loaded double from Grier plated three more.
Concordia added another in the top of the sixth to pull the Cavaliers within one, but the Jacks leaned on the arm of
Megan Holt in the final three innings, only allowing three hits on her way to her third win on the season.
The Jacks will look for similar results as they take the field tomorrow for a pair of games against Azusa Pacific and Holy Names. The early game is scheduled for 9 a.m with the second set to start at 11:30 a.m at Pedretti Sports Complex.
