IRVINE, Calif. — Cal Poly Humboldt softball opened the 2026 season with a split on Friday at the Concordia Kickoff Classic, showing both resilience and offensive firepower in a 1–1 start at Great Park Softball Stadium. The Lumberjacks dropped a tightly contested 3–1 decision to Northwest Nazarene in the morning opener behind a standout collegiate debut from freshman pitcher Lily Fournier, then bounced back in the afternoon with a 6–4 win over Hawaiʻi Pacific, powered by a 13-hit offensive performance and steady relief pitching to secure their first victory of the season.

Game One - Northwest Nazarene 3, Cal Poly Humboldt 1 

Cal Poly Humboldt softball opened the 2026 season with a hard-fought 3–1 loss to Northwest Nazarene on Friday morning at the Concordia Kickoff, squaring off in the season opener at Great Park Softball Stadium.

Despite the final score, the Lumberjacks showed plenty of promise, highlighted by an electric collegiate debut from freshman pitcher Lily Fournier, who struck out 12 batters in a complete-game effort in the circle. Fournier went all seven innings, allowing seven hits and three runs while consistently keeping the Nighthawks off balance in her first appearance as a Lumberjack.

Northwest Nazarene (1-0) struck early, scoring single runs in the first and second innings. An RBI single from Elina Bumatay plated the game's first run in the opening frame, followed by an RBI single from Alyssa Clark in the second to give the Nighthawks a 2–0 advantage.

Cal Poly Humboldt (0-1) broke through in the sixth inning to cut the deficit in half. After Rylee Banks reached base and eventually came around to score, Marissa Brody drove in the Lumberjacks' lone run when she reached on an error, making it a 2–1 game and putting pressure on the Nighthawk defense.

Northwest Nazarene added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single from Katie Bell to push the margin to 3–1.

Humboldt refused to go quietly in the bottom of the seventh. Alyssa Ramirez delivered a single in the final at-bats of the game, breaking up a Northwest Nazarene no-hitter and giving the Lumberjacks momentum late, but the comeback bid came up just short.

In the circle, Fournier matched Northwest Nazarene's pitching punch for punch, recording double-digit strikeouts and working out of multiple jams. Her 12 strikeouts marked one of the strongest debut performances by a Humboldt freshman pitcher in recent seasons.

The Lumberjacks continue play at the Concordia Kickoff as they look to build on a season-opening performance that showed resilience, strong pitching, and flashes of offensive potential to start the 2026 campaign.

Game Two - Cal Poly Humboldt 6, Hawai'i Pacific 4 

Cal Poly Humboldt softball picked up its first win of the 2026 season Friday afternoon, defeating Hawaiʻi Pacific 6–4 in game two of the Concordia Kickoff Classic. The Jacks (1-1) erupted for 13 hits and received strong relief pitching to secure the victory over the Sharks (0-1).

Humboldt wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the opening inning. Alyssa Ramirez led the frame with a hit and eventually scored on Shelby Shanks' RBI triple to left field. Moments later, Marissa Brody drove in another run with a groundout to second base, giving the Jacks an early 2–0 advantage.

Hawaiʻi Pacific responded with a run in the bottom of the first, but Humboldt continued to apply pressure offensively. In the third inning, Hailee Moore tripled to right field to score Ramirez and restore a two-run cushion.

After the Sharks pulled within one in the bottom of the third, the Jacks answered again in the fourth. Bella Garcia came around to score on a groundout by Rylee Banks, making it 4–2. Hawaiʻi Pacific countered with a run in the home half of the inning, keeping the game tight.

Katlyn Gifford provided a key insurance run in the fifth inning, doubling to bring home Shanks and pushing Humboldt's lead to 5–3. The Sharks once again answered, scoring in the bottom of the fifth to trim the deficit to a single run.

Humboldt sealed the win in the seventh inning when Brody delivered her second RBI of the game with a single to center field, scoring Bridgette Boling and extending the lead to 6–4.

The Jacks' offense was led by Ramirez, who finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Gifford went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Shanks added a 2-for-3 performance with a triple, an RBI, and two runs scored. Brody drove in two runs, Moore added an RBI triple, and Garcia chipped in with a hit, a walk, and a run scored.

In the circle, Mason Hatton earned the win in relief, tossing 3.1 innings and allowing two runs while striking out three. Ariana Bottel closed the door in the seventh, picking up her first save of the season.

Cal Poly Humboldt returns to action on Saturday to wrap up the Concordia Kickoff Classic with games against Jessup at 8:30 a.m. and Azusa Pacific at 10:30 a.m. No live stream will be available for either contest.

How to Follow Along 

Tournament Central Website

- Saturday vs Jessup (no live stream): Live Stats

- Saturday vs Azusa Pacific (no live stream): Live Stats

For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt softball, visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app on Apple iOS or Google Android, and follow the Lumberjacks on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook.

Instagram: @humboldt.athletics, @humboldt.sb

Twitter/X: @HumboldtJacks

Facebook: Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks