TURLOCK, Calif. -- Cal Poly Humboldt opened their weekend at the Tournament of Champions in Turlock on Friday, taking on Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents Montana State University Billings and Northwest Nazarene University. The Lumberjacks picked up two wins, defeating MSU Billings 4-0 and Northwest Nazarene 5-2. Gaige Garcia picked up two wins, pitched a total of twelve innings, had seven strikeouts, and allowed just two runs. Izzy Starr collected a total of five hits and Micaela Harris moved to 2nd all-time in career stolen bases for Cal Poly Humboldt (146).

GAME 1 VS. MSU BILLINGS
The Lumberjacks got busy in the bottom of the first inning when Micaela Harris singled to center field on an 0-2 pitch then proceeded to steal second base. With one out in the inning, Katlyn Gifford reached on dropped fly ball by the left fielder and advanced to second base while Harris scored on the error. Gifford advanced to third base on a wild pitch, then was drove in by Alyssa Smokey on an infield single to the shortstop to give the 'Jacks an early 2-0 lead. Gaige Garcia kept the MSU Billings offense quiet for the majority of the game, as she only allowed two hits in the top of the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fifth inning, a Gifford single followed by an Izzy Starr double to center field scratched one more run across the plate for Humboldt. After advancing to third base, Starr scored on a fielder's choice when Kristin Ingram laid down a sacrifice bunt and was able to beat the play at home, which gave Humboldt a comfortable 4-0 lead heading into the final two innings. Ava Hand came in to pitch to senior catcher Morgan Brant in the seventh inning and was able to shut the door on MSU Billings. Cal Poly Humboldt took game one at the Tournament of Champions, defeating the Yellowjackets of MSU Billings with a final score of 4-0. 

NOTABLE STATS
- Izzy Starr went 3-for-3 (2B), had one run and one RBI.
- Alyssa Smokey had two hits, one run and one RBI.
- Katlyn Gifford, Micaela Harris, and Shelby Shanks all collected a hit.
- Kristin Ingram had an RBI.
- Harris had one stolen base, tying the second most all-time career stolen bases at Humboldt with 145.
- Gaige Garcia (6-5) got the win, pitched six innings, allowed two hits, no runs, and had six strikeouts.

GAME 2 VS. NORTHWEST NAZARENE
Neither team got on the scoreboard through the first four and a half innings of play as pitching and defense controlled the tone of the game for both sides. In the bottom of the fifth inning, a Vanessa Saltos walk and Tessa Poirier pinch-hit double put two runners in scoring position for Micaela Harris. Harris drove in both runners on a triple that she hit in the right center field gap. It is her third triple of the season. The 'Jacks held a 2-0 advantage going into the sixth inning. A three hit top of the sixth for Northwest Nazarene resulted in two runs that evened the scoreboard at two. In the home half of the sixth, a two-out rally began when Izzy Starr singled to the shortstop. Kristin Ingram was hit by a pitch and Vanessa Saltos came up clutch after driving a ball over the center field fence that resulted in her second home run of the season and a 5-2 Lumberjack lead. Vanessa Richie came in to close the game in the seventh and recorded her first save of the season. Cal Poly Humboldt was victorious over Northwest Nazarene with a final score of 5-2 and finished day one at the Tournament of Champions with two wins under their belt. 

NOTABLE STATS
- Micaela Harris went 3-for-3 (3B) and had two RBI's. She also had a stolen base, which moved her to into second all-time for career stolen bases at Humboldt with 146. The current record is 164 and held by Hanna Holland.
- Izzy Starr had two hits, one of which was a double
- Vanessa Saltos hit her second home run of the season and walked. She had two runs and three RBI's. 
- Tessa Poirier had a pinch-hit double.
- Gaige Garcia (7-5) got the win after pitching six innings and allowing two earned runs.
- Vanessa Richie collected the save and had a clean seventh inning.

UP NEXT 
On Saturday, the Lumberjacks (12-18) will take on Pacific West Conference opponents Azusa Pacific University (19-15) and Hawaii Pacific University (17-24) from Pedretti Sports Complex in Turlock, Calif. Game one is set for 9:00 AM and game two is set for 4:30 PM. 

Click here to view the Tournament of Champions website. 

For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt softball, please visit humboldtathletics.com and follow us on all social media platforms.