ARCATA – The Humboldt State softball team pounded out 29 hits and scored 25 runs while allowing just four hits and a single run in a sweep of Dominican University on Saturday. The Jacks won by scores of 14-0 and 11-1, both in five innings.
In game one, Vaneza Hoover pitched four no-hit innings and struck out eight of the 15 batters she faced wining and improving her record to 3-5.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
The Jacks struck for six runs in the second inning as they batted around. The big hits were a pair of two-run doubles. Sammi Gilbert’s to left plated HSU’s first two run and Courtney Hiatt’s scored the last two of the inning.
In the third the Jacks got three more runs. Kirsten Nouzovsky led off with a solo shot to straight away centerfield and the other two came off a homer to left by Serena Aragones.
In the fourth, Clair Hoose came off the bench to hit with the bases loaded and blasted a bases clearing double to push the Jacks advantage to 14-0.
In the Dominican fifth, Nichole Parada came on to pitch for the Jacks and gave up two hits before setting down the Penguins and preserving the shut out and win.
In game two, the Jacks put up three in the first. After a one out walk, Nouzovsky and and Chrissy Stalf hit successive RBI doubles. Hiatt had a RBI single, but was cut down trying to stretch it into a double.
In the Penguins second, they had a runner on first with one out. A wild pitch advanced the runner to second and she was brought home by a double down the line. It was to be the only run for Dominican and came off Jacks’ starter Kristina Lewis. Lewis pitched 3.0 innings, allowed two hits and picked up the win. Her record is now 1-2.
HSU five in the second the Jacks batted around and scored five runs. The big hit was a two RBI double off the bat of Nikki Ketteringham. After two innings HSU led 8-1.
The Jacks tacked on three more runs in the fourth to take an 11-1 lead and won by that score.
Gracie Perez pitched the final two innings for the Lumberjacks. She faced six batters, struck out five and allowed not base runners.
“This was a good day for us,” said Nouzovsky who went 6-for-6 with five run and three RBI. “Everyone wanted to hit and get a win and we got two wins. It was an all around good day for out team.”
“Personally this was one of the best days I have had. This year I have more mental confidence. I’m coming off a two-year injury and to get back on the field and play well is something I have really wanted.”
“The layoff we had over the last two weeks hurt our pitching more than our hitting,” head coach Frank Cheek said. “We needed to work the bugs out today and we did.”