SEASIDE, Calif.--- Despite the pitching performance of
Karen Di Dio and
Gaige Garcia, the Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks lost two nail biters 3-1 and 3-2 to the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters this afternoon in Seaside, In game one, Di Dio pitched six innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs while striking out one. In the night cap, Garcia pitched four innings, giving up four hits and one earned run while striking out two and walking one. DI Dio pitched the final two innings, giving up four this and a run.
GAME ONE: Cal Poly Humboldt took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.
Vanessa Saltos had a lead-off single and was out at second when
Alyssa Ramirez reached on a fielder's choice. Ramirez later scored on a one-out double by
Katelyn Dendas. The Otters tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second when they took advantage of a Jack error.
Cal State Monterey Bay (21-10, 11-9 CCAA) doubled its lead in the bottom of the third inning. Ivanna Perez had a one-out double and alter scored on a ground out by Oli Perez to take a 2-1 lead. The Otters added an insurance run in the sixth to take a 3-1 lead.
The Jacks had a chance to break into the deficit in the top of the seventh.
JoAna Mullins reached on a one-out error, but was stranded there as the Otters took the 3-1 game one victory.
JACK STARS: Katelyn Dendas and
Vanessa Saltos each had two hits. Dendas had a run scoring double while
Alyssa Ramirez scored the Jacks' run.
Karen Di Dio pitched six innings, giving up three hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out one.
GAME TWO: Cal State Monterey Bay took an early 1-0 lead on a two-out home run by Ally Alcayaga in the bottom of the first inning. The Otters doubled their lead when they took advantage of a Humboldt error in the second inning.
Cal Poly Humboldt (11-23, 6-18 CCAA) cut the Otter lead in half on a one-out pinch-hit home run by
Julia Rivera in the top of the fifth inning. The Jacks tied the game in the sixth on a one-out solo home run by
Izzy Starr.
The Otters retook the lead, 3-2, in the sixth inning when Alyssa Burt scored when Ashley Honorio reached on a fielder's choice. Burt had a lead-off single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt. She scored on the fielder's choice sacrifice bunt by Honorio.
Humboldt had a chance to tie the game in its half of the seventh. Rivera reached on a one-out error and was pinch ran for by
Emily McAdams. The Otters retired the next two batters on ground outs to preserve the 3-2 victory.
JACK STARS: Izzy Starr had two hits including a solo home run.
Julia Rivera also had a solo home run. Three other Jacks had one hit apiece in
Micaela Harris,
Vanessa Saltos and
Annabelle Dixon.
Gaige Garcia pitched four innings, giving up four this and two runs (one earned) while striking out two and walking one. Karen Di DIo (6-12) pitched four innings, giving up one hit and a run.
UP NEXT: Cal Poly Humboldt returns to the diamond in Turlock, Calif., April 1-3 when the Jacks participate in the Tournament of Champions. Humboldt will face Western Washington, Hawaii Pacific, Hawaii Hilo, Azusa Pacific and No. 2 Concordia-Irvine.
