ARCATA, Calif.---  Humboldt State's softball team started the 2020 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) season with a doubleheader split on the road at Cal State San Marcos.  The Lumberjacks took the night cap 12-9 behind an offensive attack that including 16 hits including Mariah Kalamaras and Lauren Lipe going a combined six-for-ten, driving in four runs and scoring three times.  The Cougars took the opener 8-0 in six innings.
 
GAME ONE:  Cal State San Marcos took an 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Abby Callais which drove in
Gianna Lombardi in the fourth inning.  The Cougars added another run in the fourth on a run scoring single by Brittney Scardina to double the hosts' lead to 2-0.  Humboldt State had a chance to break into the run column in its half of the fifth inning.  Lauren Lipe walked with one out, went to second when Katelyn Dendas walked with two outs.  Cougar starting pitcher, Zoe Ballin, induced the next 'Jack batter to line out back to her to end the scoring threat.
 
Cal State San Marcos made it 3-0 on a run scoring double by Lombardi in the bottom of the fifth.  The Cougars (3-4, 1-1 CCAA) broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning keyed by a two-run double by Cherise Horita. 
 
GAME ONE LEADERS:  HSU managed just two hits in the opener with Danica Grier and Micaela Harris each with one.  Taylor Culp (0-1) suffered the loss for the 'Jacks.
 
Zoe Ballin (3-1) picked up the win in the start for Cal State San Marcos.  Gianna Lombardi paced the Cougar offensive attach going three-for-four, driving in two runs and scoring once.
 
GAME TWO:  The hosts took a 2-0 lead on a two-run single by Abby Callais in their half of the second inning.  A solo home run by Cherise Horita increased CSUSM's lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning. 
 
Humboldt State (2-3, 1-1 CCAA) took a 6-3 lead with a six-run fourth inning.  Mariah Kalamaras drove in Haley Suter with a single up the middle to start the scoring.  Still with no outs, Lexee Sheiring had a run scoring double to bring in Micaela Harris.  The guests added another run on a single by Lauren Lipe which brought in Sarah Salinas to tie the game at 3-3. A bases clearing one-out double by Danica Grier doubled the 'Jack lead to 6-3. 
 
Cal State San Marcos retook the lead, 8-6, with a five-run fourth inning.  HSU cut the deficit in half when the 'Jacks took advantage off a Cougar miscue.  Mariah Tovar had a lead-off double, went to third on a single by Kalamaras and scored when Chloe Koll reached on a Cougar error.
 
The Lumberjacks retook the lead, 10-8, with a three-run sixth inning.  Haley Suter had a lead-off single, went to second when Micaela Harris was hit by a pitch.  With two outs, Kalamaras tied the game with a two-run double.  HSU took the lead on a two-out double by Koll.  The Cougars cut HSU's lead to 10-9 with a run in the bottom of the inning. 
 
HSU increased its lead to 12-9 with two runs in the top of the seventh. Lauren Lipe had a lead-off single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Katelyn Dendas.  She advanced to third on a single by Danica Grier.  Grier stole second while Lipe scored on a bunt single by Haley Suter.  With one out, Suter stole second and Harris was by a pitch to load the bases.  Tovar's run scoring double brought in Grier to increase the Lumberjacks' lead to 12-9. 
 
Lumberjack reliever, Megan Holt, gave up a one-out walk in the Cougar half of the seventh. She then struck out the final two batters to preserve the 12-9 Lumberjack win.
 
GAME TWO LEADERS:  The Lumberjacks had 16 hits with five HSU batters with multiple hits in Lauren Lipe (three), Mariah Kalamaras (three), Haley Suter (two), Danica Grier (two) and Mariah Tovar (two).  Grier and Kalamaras each drove in three runs while Lipe, Suter and Grier each scored two runs. 
 
Megan Holt (2-1) picked up the win in relief, striking out four and giving up two hits and two runs in four innings of relief pitching.
 
Abby Callais paced the Cougar hitting attack going two-for-two while driving in three runs.  Carly Slack (0-1) suffered the loss in relief for CSUSM.
 
UP NEXT:  The two teams will conclude the four-game series tomorrow beginning at 11am with a doubleheader in San Marcos.