BRISBANE, Calif.--- Cal Poly Humboldt's softball team finished its six-game road trip 4-2 after a non-conference split with the Academy of Art Urban Knights this afternoon at Mission Blue Field in Brisbane, Calif. The Jacks lost the opener 11-5, but came back to win the night cap 12-1 in five innings.
GAME ONE: Micaela Harris started off the game with a lead-off single and stole second. She scored on a two-out single by
Vanessa Saltos. The Jacks doubled their lead on an
Izzy Starr single to take a 2-0 lead. Academy of Art tied the game at 2-2 in its half of the first on a one-out two-run single by Elle Edeker.
Humboldt took a 3-2 lead in the top of the third inning. Harris had a lead-off walk, stole second and scored on a
JoAna Mullins double. The Urban Knights took their first lead of the game with a two-run fourth inning capped by a Carina Sanchez run scoring single to give the hosts a 4-3 lead.
Academy of Art (2-22) broke the game open with a six-run fourth inning capped by a bases-clearing triple by Katie Humphreys to take a 10-3 lead. Humboldt cut the deficit to 10-4 on a sacrifice fly by Mullins which brought in
Emily McAdams in the top of the sixth inning.
The Urban Knights added an insurance run in their half of the sixth to take an 11-4 lead. The Jacks added another run in the top of the seventh on a run scoring single by
Alyssa Ramirez which brought in Starr. Academy of Art retired the final two batters to preserve the 11-5 game one victory.
JACK STARS: Izzy Starr went three-for-four with a run scored. Two other Jacks had two hits apiece in
Micaela Harris and
Katelyn Dendas. Harris scored twice and also had two stolen bases for Humboldt.
GAME TWO: Humboldt took a 4-0 lead in its first at bat.
Micaela Harris head a lead-off single and went to second on a ground out by
Emily McAdams. She scored on a sacrifice bunt by
JoAna Mullins. With two outs,
Izzy Starr reached on a fielding error and went to second on a
Katelyn Dendas' single. Both runners scored on a home run by
Alyssa Ramirez down the left field line to give the Jacks the 4-0 lead.
Cal Poly Humboldt (11-15) added another run in the second.
Annabelle Dixon had a lead-off single and scored on a two-out single by Mullins.
The Urban Knights scored their run in the third inning as they took advantage of a Humboldt fielding error to cut the deficit to 5-1.
Humboldt increased its lead to 6-1 in the top of the fourth inning. Harris led off the inning getting hit by a pitch. She went to third on a sacrifice bunt by McAdams. She scored on a sacrifice fly by Mullins.
The visitors broke the game open with a six-run fifth inning.
Alyssa Ramirez and
Megan Escobar each walked to lead off the fifth. They advanced a base on a wild pitch. Ramirez scored on another wild pitch which
Vanessa Richie walked on to put runners at first and third. Escobar scored when Dixon walked and she took advantage of an Urban Knight throwing error. With one out, Dixon and Richie each scored when McAdam's reached on a throwing error.
The fifth inning continued as Mullins walked which McAdams stole third with still just one out in the inning. Starr drove in McAdams with a single as the Jacks took a 11-1 lead. The scoring ended for Humboldt when Dendas reached on an error which brought in Mullins with Humboldt's 12
th run of the game.
Richie (2-2) induced an Urban Knight batter to ground out into a double play to end the hosts' fifth inning as the Jacks took the night cap 12-1 in five innings.
JACK STARS: Vanessa Richie pitched five innings, giving up just two hits and an unearned run while striking out one and walking one.
Izzy Starr went two-for-four with a run batted in and a run scored.
JoAna Mullins drove in three runs and
Micaela Harris scored two runs.
Alyssa Ramirez had a three-run home run and also scored twice for Humboldt.
CCAA STANDINGS: Heading into this week, Humboldt is tied for seventh place with Sonoma State in the CCAA standings each with a 6-10 conference record. The Jacks are one game out of fifth place which Cal State Monterey Bay and San Francisco State each have a 7-9 record. Sitting in fourth place at 8-8 is Cal State East Bay. The top three teams are Cal State San Marcos and Chico State each at 14-2 followed by Cal State Dominguez Hills at 10-6.
The top six teams at the end of the regular season will receive a bid to the CCAA Softball Tournament. The tournament will be hosted by Cal State Monterey Bay in Seaside, Calif., and run from May 5 to May 7. The tournament champion will receive the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Softball Championships.
UP NEXT: Cal Poly Humboldt will return home for a four-game series with Sonoma State this weekend, March 18-19. The series will begin on Friday with a 1pm starting doubleheader and will conclude on Saturday with an 11am starting doubleheader.
