SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Cal Poly Humboldt Softball returned to the diamond for a Saturday doubleheader at San Francisco State and looked to even the series after dropping a pair of losses on Friday to the Gators. The results ended up repeating themselves as SF State held on to sweep the series after taking game three with a final score of 6-4 and game four with a final score of 5-0. Vanessa Saltos and Katlyn Gifford each led Humboldt offensively with three hits on the day. 
 

Game One (SF State 6, HUM 4)

The Gators got busy in the home half of the first inning and jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Humboldt responded by grabbing the momentum in the top of third and scored three runs to gain a 3-2 lead. With a hit by pitch, walk, pair of fielder's choices, and a double to left center by Katlyn Gifford, the 'Jacks held their 3-2 lead until the bottom of the fifth. SF State took advantage of Humboldt defensively to regain a 4-3 lead after two Lumberjack errors and two hits.

Vanessa Saltos evened the score at four after she hit her second home run in two days to lead off the top of the sixth inning. The Gators once again capitalized on the defensive flukes of the Lumberjack defense, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth on three hits and two errors in the field. With the heavy hitters for Humboldt coming up, the 'Jacks couldn't spark a rally in their final at-bats and fell with a final score of 6-4. 
 

Quick Hitters

• Katlyn Gifford led the team with two hits and two RBI's

• Vanessa Saltos hit her second home run of the season

• Izzy Starr had two singles

• Hailee Moore and Alyssa Ramirez both had one hit and one run scored

• Gaige Garcia fell to 4-7 and Mari Takeda Bajan of SF State improved to 5-2

• Humboldt had six errors that led to three unearned runs

 

Game Two (SF State 5, HUM 0)

Similar to game two on Friday, a defensive and pitching battle saw neither team score a run until the home half of the fourth inning when SF State collected three runs on two hits and a Lumberjack error in the field to go up 3-0. The Gators scratched two more runs across the plate in the bottom of fifth on three hits and some small ball to move the runners along. Humboldt had six hits as a team and opportunities to score with runners in scoring position in four out of the seven innings, but couldn't find the timely hit to put runs on the board. SF State took game four of the series with a final score of 5-0. 
 

Quick Hitters

• Vanessa Saltos and Alyssa Ramirez both went 2-for-3

• Shelby Shanks and Katlyn Gifford both went 1-for-3

• Alyssa Smokey had two walks

• McKenna Beach was hit for the third time this series and currently leads the CCAA in HBP with eight total

• Vanessa Richie fell to 2-3 and Elise Roy of SF State improved to 5-5

 

Up Next

Cal Poly Humboldt will hit the road next week for Turlock as they compete in the Tournament of Champions. Playing five games in three days, the 'Jacks will be facing 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Last season, Humboldt went 5-0 in the tournament and current assistant coach, Micaela Harris, was named Tournament MVP.