ARCATA, Calif.--- Prior to the first pitch of today's doubleheader with No. 8 Cal State San Marcos Cougars (13-38, 6-28 CCAA), the Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks had a ceremony recognizing Mental Health Awareness on Dam Worth It Day at Humboldt's Softball Field. The Cougars won the opener 9-1 (5) and the night cap 3-2 (9).
GAME ONE: Cal State San Marcos took a 1-0 lead in its half of the third inning. Kayla Mack began the inning being hit by a pitch. She was pinch ran for by Sammie Olivo. Olivo advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Makenzie Guiliano. She scored on a single by Bianca Gutierrez.
Humboldt tied the game in its half of the third.
Ciera Pyle drew a lead-off walk. She went to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Anna Brondos. With two outs, she stole third and scored on the errant throw to tie the game at 1-1.
The Cougars retook the lead with a two-run fourth inning on back to back solo home runs by Ryann Steiner and Lombardi to give the guests a 3-1 lead. They broke the game open with a six-run fifth inning to take a 9-1 lead.
CSUSM's starting pitcher Savannah Coyle (17-3) retired the Jacks in order in the bottom of the fifth to give the Cougars the 9-1 game one victory.
JACK STARS: Karen Di Dio (7-17) pitched four innings, giving up six hits and three runs while striking out one and walking one.
Ava Hand pitched 0.2 scoreless innings of relief while striking out one.
Izzy Starr had Humboldt's only hit and
Ciera Pyle had her second stolen base of the season and scored the Jacks' run.
GAME TWO: The night cap was a pitcher's duel between the two starting pitchers for the first six innings in the Jacks'
Emily McAdams and the Cougars' Zoe Ballen. The Jacks had a chance to take the lead in their half of the sixth inning.
Vanessa Saltos and
Katelyn Dendas had back to back one-out singles. Savannah Coyle came in to pitch for the Cougars. Each runner advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Coyle induce the final two Jack batters of the inning to strike out and to line out to second to keep the scoreless game.
Kayla Mack led off the Cougar seventh being hit by a pitch. She was ran for by Makenzie Guiliano who went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bianca Gutierrez. Guillano advanced to third on an infield single by Nikki Andelin. Guiliano scored on a Jack error when Andelin stole second to give the guests a 1-0 lead. Andelin scored to double the Cougar lead to 2-0 on a one-out single by Paige Donnelly.
Emily McAdams (0-6) had a lead-off single for the Jacks in their half of the seventh. She went to second on a one-out single by
Hollee Travao. With two outs,
Izzy Starr doubled home both McAdams and Travao to tie the game at 2-2. Starr went to third on a single by Saltos, but both runners were stranded at their respective bases as Coyle induced the final out of the inning to pop up to shortstop.
Cal Poly Humboldt (17-38, 6-28 CCAA) had a chance to win the game in the eighth.
Anna Brondos had a lead-off single and went to second on a wild pitch. Coyle induced the next three Jacks to strike out, ground out and fly out to left.
Donnelly's solo home run with one out, her seventh of the season, gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth. Humboldt once again battled in its half of the ninth. Travao had a lead-off bunt single and went to second on an errant throw. With one out, Starr was hit by a pitch. She was run for by
Ciera Pyle. Saltos walked to load the bases with one out. The next two Jacks fouled out to first and ground out to second as the Cougars took the night cap 3-2.
JACK STARS: Emily McAdams pitched nine innings, giving up 11 hits and three runs while striking out four and walking four.
Hollee Travao had three hits while
Izzy Starr,
Vanessa Saltos and
Katelyn Dendas each had two hits.
UP NEXT: The two teams will finish off their regular season tomorrow morning with an 1pm starting doubleheader at Bear River Casino in Loleta, Calif.. In between the games of the doubleheader, Humboldt will recognize both teams' seniors including its own four in
Katelyn Dendas,
Megan Holt,
Emily McAdams and
JoAna Mullins.
