LOLETA, Calif. -- The Cal Poly Humboldt offense scored a total of 21 runs on 21 hits to earn a split with the Sonoma State Seawolves on Friday from the Bear River Sports Complex in Loleta. A 9-6 final for game one in favor of Sonoma was followed up by a 15-2 run rule victory for Humboldt after scoring a season-high 15 runs over five innings of play.
Vanessa Saltos,
Alyssa Smokey,
Julia Rivera, and
Izzy Starr all homered and
Vanessa Richie picked up the win in game two.
Game One (SSU 9, HUM 6)
The long ball kept Humboldt alive throughout the game as Saltos, Smokey, and Rivera all sent one over the fence. Early on in the second inning, a two-run moonshot put the 'Jacks ahead. Sonoma jumped out to a 5-3 lead, but the momentum changed in the bottom of the fifth inning
Alyssa Smokey torched a ball over the center field fence to make it a one-run ball game, 5-4. Down 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth,
Julia Rivera proved clutch and tied the game at six with her first home run of the season on a 2-2 pitch to deep left field. The rain picked up in the seventh inning and Sonoma took advantage of Humboldt pitching that struggled to find the strike zone. The Seawolves scored three runs on two hits and three walks to take a 9-6 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, power hitter
Julia Rivera returned to the plate with two outs and bases loaded. Rivera just missed the sweet spot on the bat and flied out to center field, ending the nail biter of a game.
Game Two (HUM 15, SSU 2 - 5 Innings)
Carrying the momentum from game one into game two, the 'Jacks put up six runs in the home half of the first to take a comfortable 6-1 lead early on. By the end of the third inning, Humboldt managed to double their run total and post a 12-1 lead. Fighting to end the game in five innings due to run rule, the 'Jacks added some insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it a 15-2 game.
Vanessa Richie closed the door in the top of the fifth inning to earn her fourth win of the season after giving up just two hits and one earned run over five frames. The 15 runs scored for Humboldt is a season-high.
Up Next
On Saturday, Cal Poly Humboldt (16-15, 6-8 CCAA) will host Sonoma State (18-12, 11-7 CCAA) for another CCAA doubleheader at Bear River Sports Complex in Loleta. Game times are set for 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM. All games can be streamed on the CCAA Network.
