ARCATA, Calif..---  Humboldt State's softball team will begin its 2020 campaign this weekend with five non-conference games in the State of Colorado.  The Lumberjacks will face the Roadrunners of Metropolitan State University of Denver in a three-game series on January 31 (doubleheader at noon-MT) and February 2 (single game at 11am MT).  They will also take on the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers in an 11am (MT) starting doubleheader on February 1.
 
LUMBERJACKS:  HSU returns 15 letter-winners from last year's team that went 21-29 including NFCA All-West Region and All-CCAA selection Danica Grier.  The junior second baseman batted .329 last season while hitting five home runs and driving in 33 runs.  Also returning are junior third baseman Haley Suter and junior catcher/outfielder Micaela Harris.  Suter batted .341 and drove in 25 runs.  She also had 13 extra base-hits including eight doubles.  Harris hit .289 in her sophomore season after earning All-CCAA honors her freshman season.
 
RETURNING TO COLORADO:  With their three games in Denver on Friday and Sunday, the Lumberjacks are returning the same complex that they finished as 2016 NCAA Division II National Champion Runner-ups.  Humboldt State lost in the championship three-game series to North Alabama at the Regency Athletic Complex on the campus of Metropolitan State University of Denver.  The 'Jacks defeated North Alabama 5-0 in the first game, but the lost the final two games of the series 10-1 and 4-1.
 
ROADRUNNERS:  Metropolitan State University of Denver Roadrunners finished the 2019 campaign with a 31-27 overall record including a 23-13 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) record. MSUD finished in fifth place in the RMAC. Four of their top returners from last year's team are Darby McGhee, JJ Sheppard, Laney Sheppard and Rebecca Gonzalez.  McGhee went 13-11 last year in the circle for the Roadrunners while posting a 2.77 earned run average and striking out 123 batters in 166.2 innings.  She was named to the All-RMAC First Team as well as being an All-Region selection.  Gonzalez batted .359 while driving in 41 runs in 58 games. She was an All-RMAC selection along with being the RMAC Freshman of the Year.  Laney Sheppard was an All-RMAC honoree as well as she hit 13 home runs and drove in 44 runs.  JJ Sheppard batted a team high .359 in 38 games.  The Lumberjacks defeated Metro State 4-1 on February 4, 2012 at the Best of the West Classic in Turlock, Calif., in the only meeting between the two teams.
 
OREDIGERS:  Colorado School of Mines Orediggers finished the 2019 season with a 28-21 overall record and a 25-12 RMAC record, which placed them in fourth place.  Their top two returners are Clara Lawson and Sydney Marchando.  Lawson is a senior infielder who hit .380 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs while driving in 50 runs.  Marchando is junior pitcher who went 16-5 with 118 strikeouts while posting a 1.18 earned run average.  HSU won the first ever meeting with the Orediggers on February 9, 2014 a 7-4 win at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas, Nevada.
 
LIVE STATS/VIDEO:  For the Roadrunner three-game series, for live stats go to https://roadrunnersathletics.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary and for video go to https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msudenver/.  For the Oredigger doubleheader, go to https://minesathletics.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary and for video go to https://portal.stretchinternet.com/csm/.

CCAA SEASON UP NEXT:  Humboldt State will begin its 2020 CCAA season with eight games on the road.  The 'Jacks will open up CCAA season in San Marcos, Calif., with a four-game series on Feb. 7-8 against Cal State San Marcos.  They will continue their road trip in Seaside, Calif., with a four-game series on Feb. 14-15 at Cal State Monterey Bay.  The Lumberjacks will have their home opener with a four-game series with No. 20 Chico State on Feb. 21-22.