SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- Cal Poly Humboldt returned to the diamond for a non-conference doubleheader against the Dominican Penguins on Wednesday after 16 days of no game action. After falling in game one to the Penguins with a final score of 9-2, the 'Jacks knocked the rust off their bats and exploded for 11 hits in game two to win with a final score of 6-2 and earn the road split. In game two,
Izzy Starr hit two home runs to lead Humboldt offensively with two runs and three runs batted in.
Game One (L, 2-9)
Two of the four Humboldt hits came in the top of the first inning when
Hailee Moore led off with a single to left field and
Katlyn Gifford drove her in with a single through the right side to give the 'Jacks an early lead. Dominican responded with a huge home half of the first inning, as they put up six runs to claim an early lead. The Penguins scored six runs on four hits, one of which was a grand slam by Shelby Keltner. Dominican added two more runs in the bottom of the second inning to extend their lead to 8-1. In the top of the fourth,
Shelby Shanks torched her first homer of the season to left field on the first pitch of her at-bat to make it an 8-2 ball game. Dominican scratched a run across the plate in the fifth inning after a throwing error was committed by the 'Jacks. Although two runners reached safely in the final at-bats for Humboldt, the 'Jacks failed to start a rally and fell short with a final score of 9-2.
Notable Stats
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Ava Hand came in relief and pitched 5.1 innings, allowing just two earned runs a striking out four
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Shelby Shanks went 1-for-3 (HR), scored a run and recorded an RBI
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Katlyn Gifford (RBI),
Hailee Moore (R), and
McKenna Beach all singled
- Shleby Keltner (7-6) of Dominican got the win and also recorded her 500th career strikeout,
Gaige Garcia (4-6) recorded the loss
Game Two (W, 7-3)
Hailee Moore worked her way around the bases to get Humboldt on the board in the top of the first inning after she singled to left field, stole second base, and was drove in on an
Alyssa Smokey single to right center field. The Lumberjacks added another run in the second inning after three consecutive singles by
Vanessa Saltos,
McKenna Beach, and
Sadie Hampton. A powerful third inning saw
Alyssa Smokey and
Izzy Starr launch a pair of home runs to extend the lead to four runs.
Vanessa Richie held the Penguins scoreless through three innings, but Dominican managed to plate a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, making it a 4-1 ball game. Smokey came in to relieve Richie in the fourth and got the third out, escaping a big Dominican inning as the Penguins had the bases loaded. In the bottom of the sixth, Dominican hit three straight singles to plate a run and cut their deficit to two runs.
Izzy Starr provided some insurance for Humboldt in the top of the seventh when she drilled her second home run of the game over the left center field fence to make it a 6-2 game. Smokey earned her sixth win of the season after holding Dominican in their final at-bats and is now tied for the second most wins in the CCAA.
Notable Stats
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Alyssa Smokey improved to 6-1 after recording the win, Kassidy Stetler (2-3) of Dominican recorded the loss
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Izzy Starr led the team offensively with two home runs, two runs, and three RBI's
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Vanessa Saltos went 3-for-4 (2B)
- Smokey had two hits, one being a home run to straight away center field
- Beach, Hampton, Meisenbach, and Moore all had a hit
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Vanessa Richie allowed one run over 3.2 innings pitched and had four strikeouts
- Humboldt exploded for 11 hits, the most against a Division II opponent this season
Up Next
This Friday and Saturday, Cal Poly Humboldt (12-8, 5-3 CCAA) will stay in the bay area and take on San Francisco State (7-13, 4-8 CCAA) for a pair of CCAA doubleheaders.
