SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Cal Poly Humboldt opened CCAA play on Friday afternoon by splitting a doubleheader with San Francisco State at SFSU Softball Field. The Lumberjacks dropped the opener 5–2 before erupting offensively in game two for a 13–5 run-rule victory in five innings.
The split moves Humboldt to 7–8 overall and 1–1 in CCAA play.
Game One – SF State 5, Cal Poly Humboldt 2
Cal Poly Humboldt struck first in the top of the first inning. Shelby Shanks reached base and eventually came around to score when Marissa Brody reached on a fielding error by the Gators, giving the Lumberjacks an early 1–0 lead.
San Francisco State answered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs, taking advantage of a pair of Humboldt errors to take a 2–1 advantage.
The game remained tight until the fifth when Alexa Garcia delivered the biggest swing for Humboldt. The center fielder launched a solo home run to left center, tying the game at 2–2. Garcia finished 2-for-3 with a double and the home run, accounting for two of the Lumberjacks' five hits.
Freshman Lily Fournier kept the Gators in check for much of the afternoon in the circle. The right-hander tossed a complete game, striking out six batters across six innings while allowing just two earned runs.
San Francisco State broke the tie in the sixth inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues to score three runs and pull away for the 5–2 final.
Game Two – Cal Poly Humboldt 13, SF State 5 (5 innings)
The Lumberjacks responded emphatically in the second game, piling up 13 runs on 12 hits to earn a run-rule victory and even the opening conference series.
Humboldt opened the scoring in the first inning when Katlyn Gifford drew a bases-loaded walk, bringing home Hailee Moore for a 1–0 lead.
San Francisco State briefly took the lead with three runs in the second inning, but the Lumberjacks answered immediately with a big offensive surge.
In the third inning, Humboldt regained control. Matea Muraoka delivered a two-run double, scoring Shelby Shanks and Marissa Brody to tie the game before Rylee Banks followed with a two-run single, giving the 'Jacks a 5–3 lead.
The Lumberjack offense broke the game open in the fourth inning with five more runs. Humboldt took advantage of multiple Gator miscues, while Alyssa Ramirez added an RBI single to extend the advantage.
Humboldt kept the pressure on in the fifth as Gifford lined a two-run double and Muraoka added an RBI single to push the lead to 13–4, sealing the run-rule victory.
Several Lumberjacks turned in standout performances at the plate:
In the circle, Ariana Bottel earned the win after pitching all five innings, striking out three while working through traffic to secure her third victory of the season.
Cal Poly Humboldt and San Francisco State will continue their CCAA-opening series Saturday with another doubleheader in San Francisco.
