‘Jacks Turn Attention Toward Road Series At Ranked Cal State East Bay
Max Combs
ARCATA, Calif. – The Cal Poly Humboldt softball team returns to conference action this weekend with a challenging four-game road series against No. 3 Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif.
The Lumberjacks will face the Pioneers in a doubleheader on Friday, Mar. 27 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., followed by another doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 28 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Humboldt enters the weekend 13-16 overall and 4-4 in CCAA play, carrying momentum after a productive six-game stretch last week in which the 'Jacks won four of six games, including a 3-1 conference series victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lumberjacks are coming off a busy and encouraging week that featured six games in four days, beginning with a non-conference split at Dominican before Humboldt finally made its long-awaited home debut and took three of four against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Humboldt opened the week in San Rafael, dropping game one to Dominican 8-6 despite jumping out to a 5-1 lead. The 'Jacks responded immediately in game two, erupting for 14 hits in an 11-2 run-rule victory. Bella Garcia and Matea Muraoka each recorded three-hit performances, while Mason Hatton punctuated the win with a three-run home run in the seventh inning.
Back in Arcata for the first home games of the season, Humboldt delivered one of its most exciting performances of the year in Friday's opener against Dominguez Hills. The Lumberjacks rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the bottom of the seventh to secure a dramatic 6-5 walk-off win, capped by a two-RBI single from Marissa Brody. Humboldt carried that momentum into game two and completed the sweep with a 9-5 victory, using a seven-run burst over the first two innings to seize control. Olivia Hurtado's three-run home run and Shelby Shanks' three-RBI performance highlighted the offensive effort.
The series finale on Saturday saw Humboldt split the doubleheader, falling 7-4 in game one before bouncing back with another late-game comeback in the nightcap. Trailing 4-1 entering the sixth inning, the Lumberjacks stormed back for a 5-4 win behind Katlyn Gifford's go-ahead three-run home run. Humboldt then sealed the victory in dramatic fashion when Bella Garcia turned a game-ending double play at third base with the bases loaded in the seventh.
Across the six-game stretch, Humboldt showed offensive depth, resilience, and an ability to come through in pressure moments. The Lumberjacks totaled four wins, including three against a conference opponent, and saw key production throughout the lineup from players like Katlyn Gifford, Shelby Shanks, Bella Garcia, Marissa Brody, Alyssa Ramirez, and Rylee Banks.
TAKING ON THE PIONEERS
This weekend presents one of Humboldt's toughest tests of the season as the Lumberjacks travel to face a nationally-ranked Cal State East Bay (24-4, 6-2 CCAA) squad on the road.
The Pioneers enter the series as one of the top teams in the nation and have established themselves as a contender with a strong combination of pitching, timely hitting, and consistency throughout the lineup. Facing a ranked conference opponent on the road will provide Humboldt with an opportunity to measure itself against one of the league's top programs while also making an important push in the conference standings.
The Pioneers have won eight of their last ten and are looking to win their third conference series in a row. They are led by CCAA doubles leader Rylee Gomez and pitcher Marissa Quintero, the CCAA leader in ERA (0.72), opposing batting average (.147), strikeouts (90), strikeouts looking (33), and wins (17).
Humboldt will lean on prior CCAA Softball Player of the Week Shelby Shanks to continue her outstanding production at the plate as she is hitting .500 on the year with 50 hits and boasts a 1.376 OPS. Shanks finds herself near the top of all major hitting statistics and will look to keep it that way during the series.
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
Cal Poly Humboldt @ Cal State East Bay: Game 1 - Friday, Mar. 27 - 1 p.m. Watch | Live Stats
Cal Poly Humboldt @ Cal State East Bay: Game 2 - Friday, Mar. 27 - 3 p.m. Watch | Live Stats
Cal Poly Humboldt @ Cal State East Bay: Game 3 - Saturday, Mar. 28 - 11 a.m. Watch | Live Stats
Cal Poly Humboldt @ Cal State East Bay: Game 4 - Saturday, Mar. 28 - 1 p.m. Watch | Live Stats
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's series, Cal Poly Humboldt will continue CCAA play at home as the Lumberjacks look to carry their recent momentum against Cal State Monterey Bay on Thursday, Apr. 2 and Friday, Apr. 3.
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
Twitter/X: @HumboldtJacks
Facebook: Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks
