CHICO, Calif. – The Humboldt State Lumberjacks, after rapping out a combined 25 hits in two victories Monday over Chico State, picked up where they left off Tuesday, knocking out another 26 hits in taking both ends of a doubleheader from the Wildcats, winning 9-1 and 15-0 to sweep the four game series at University Softball Field.
The defending Division II champions immediately got on the scoreboard in game one of the double dip, reaching ’Cats starting pitcher Lauren Walker for four first inning runs; Caitlin Klug providing the big blow with a two-out, two-run double. Chico State got one of those runs back in the bottom of the first when Gwen Cox singled, stole second and came home on an RBI double by Jenna Wermes. Humboldt answered by erupting for five runs in the second – four consecutive RBI hits put the Lumberjacks comfortably in front 9-1. Jessica McDermott came on in relief for the Wildcats and shut out Humboldt over the next three innings, but Chico State couldn’t make up any ground against Lumberjacks pitchers Nichole Parada and Jenna Anderson, managing just three hits and over the final four frames, and with Humboldt up 9-1 after five innings, the game was ruled over. Parada (6-1) got credit for the win, while Walker (2-8) took the loss.
Game two of the doubleheader saw the Lumberjacks bring out the big lumber, as they used three home runs over the first two innings to build a 9-0 lead. Felicia Vivieros’ two-run homer capped off a four run Humboldt first inning; then in the second Sammi Gilbert led off with a homer to left and later in the inning Marissa Slattery delivered a bomb with the bases loaded to blow the game open. The Wildcats tried to answer back in the bottom of the second, but Rebecca Johnson was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a two-out single by Christina Wieck. Christine Johnson, making her first pitching appearance of the season, kept Humboldt in check for a couple of innings, but in the fourth the Lumberjacks struck for three more on an RBI base hit by Natalie Galletly and a two-run single by Vivieros. In the fifth Humboldt made it 15-0 when Geneva Perrine doubled home a run and Galletly knocked in two more with a single to center. Chico State got a runner to third base in the third and fifth innings but failed to push a run across, and again the game was declared official after five innings. Lumberjacks starter Gracie Perez (6-2) picked up the victory, while McDermott saw her record fall to 2-10. The 15-0 loss – the Wildcats’ 10th in a row – was Chico State’s most lopsided defeat since the ’Cats were beaten 16-1 by Cal State Bakersfield on February 25, 2006.
With the doubleheader loss, Chico State falls to 5-18 overall and 3-13 in the CCAA; Humboldt State improved to 16-4 on the season and 9-3 in conference play.
The Wildcats are back in action this weekend as part of the three-day Sonoma State Softball Tournament in Rohnert Park. Friday Chico State will play CSU Monterey Bay in a non-conference game at 1:00 p.m.; at 3:00 p.m. the ’Cats will take on Grand Canyon University.
BOX SCORE - Game One
BOX SCORE - Game Two
