McKINLEYVILLE — Chrissy Stalf pounded out five hits and Lindsay Warren launched a pair of home runs, leading Humboldt State to 6-1 and 5-2 wins over Western Oregon in a non-leauge doubleheader Tuesday.
With their own field unplayable due to recent rains, the Jacks took on the Wolves on the McKinleyville High School diamond. Humboldt State won for the third and fourth straight times on its home-away-from-home, improving to 8-8 on the season.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
In the opener, freshman Vaneza Hoover went the distance, scattering three hits and surrendering only second-inning home run by Western Oregon's Tyler Sutherland. Hoover, 4-5 on the season, struck out three and walked eight, but worked her way out of three jams that saw the Wolves leave two runners on base each time.
Lindsay Warren opened the scoring for HSU with a second inning solo homer over the left field fence. Sutherland answered with a shot of her own down the left field line, tying the score at 1-1 in the top of the third.
Freshman Chrissy Stalf put the Jacks ahead for good in the bottom of the third when she doubled home pinch runner Nicole Parada and Kirsten Nouzovsky. Stalf's drive down the line came after Lessard had walked the inning's first two hitters.
Stalf advanced to third on an error, then scored on another when WOU centerfielder Alyssa DesBiens mishandled a hit off the bat of Courtney Hiatt. Lindsay Warren doubled down the third base line, sending Hiatt home and giving the Jacks a 5-1 lead.
Warren added her second homer and third extra base hit of the game in the fifth, a solo shot to left field that accounted for the final margin of victory.
"We made a good double play in the top of the first and that really got us going," Warren said. " I came to the plate with a lot of confidence in the second and got hold of one. This game is 90 percent mental. I was confident all day."
In the second game, senior Gracie Perez gave up five hits, striking out seven and walking two to earn the win and improve her record to 3-1 on the season. She was supported by an 11-hit Lumberjack attack.
"I have been sick the last two weeks and I felt a little weak," Perez said. "But not being at full strength gave me pitches more movement. My inside curve was amazing and they couldn't touch my rise ball."
Stalf and Warren continued their offensive output, each picking up a hit to stake the Jacks to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Nicki Ketteringham doubled to open the frame, and Stalf moved her to third with a single ahead of Warren's RBI single through the left side.
Stalf struck again in the third, opening the inning with a single, moving to second on an error and taking third on a wild pitch. She scored the Jacks' second run of the game on a double steal after Nouzovsky had walked.
Hiatt moved the runner up with a single before Geneva Perrine's base-hit sent Nouzovsky in to give the Jacks a 3-0 lead.
Perez had little trouble setting down the Wolves through five innings before they finally broke through in the sixth. Tierra-Lyn Cuba drew a one-out walk and pinch-hitter Jessica Hallmark followed with a drive over the left-center fence to pull WOU within a run at 3-2.
Humboldt State countered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning, Stalf again delivering the big hit. Serena Aragones singled to start the inning and Erin Guidarelli reached on a fielder's choice, both runners moving up on a sacrifice aand then scoring on Stalf's single to right.
The Lumberjacks and Wolves will try to squeeze in another doubleheader Wednesday, weather permitting. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. at McKinleyville High School.