Redwoods remains winless
Corsairs drop two non-conference games; 'Jacks open conference play
Both the College of the Redwoods and the Cal Poly Humboldt softball teams opened their weekend of play on the road Friday. The `Jacks opened CCAA conference play against Cal State Monterey Bay, while the Corsairs dropped a pair of non-conference games to Modesto Junior College.
After a 14-20 go in the CCAA in 2023, first-year head coach Megan Corriea has gotten the `Jacks off to a 1-1 start in the conference with a split of a double-header against the Otters on Friday.
Humboldt nearly completed an impressive comeback in the first game, the `Jacks trailed 6-0 going into the 5th inning when sophomore first baseman Katlyn Gifford lifted a solo home run to get Humboldt on the board. Then in the 7th inning, junior pinch hitter Kristin Ingram connected for a two-run blast to bring Humboldt within three.
Later in the inning, junior pitcher Alyssa Smokey drove in junior Alyssa Ramirez and sophomore Shelby Shanks to bring Humboldt within one run, but the comeback fell just short as Humboldt lost 6-5. Junior Gaige Garcia got the loss on the mound, allowing six runs while striking out four over 3.1 innings of work. Junior Ava Hand pitched 2.2 shutout innings in relief to keep the ballgame close.
In game two, the `Jacks had better fortunes, scoring five runs in the second inning before being shut out the rest of the way and holding on to secure the 5-3 win. Ramirez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run for Humboldt to open the scoring, the next batter, Shanks, drove in a run off of a fielder's choice to push
the lead to 2-0.
After Shanks' fielder's choice, Smokey continued her big day with a threerun homer to bring home both Shanks and Ramirez to give Humboldt the 5-0 lead. Smokey was also on the mound for game two, throwing a complete game and getting her third win of the season.
Monterey Bay answered with one run in the second inning before scoring single runs in the 5th and the 6th inning to bring the game within two, but Smokey retired the side in order in the 7th to close it out and finalize the first conference win for the `Jacks in 2023.
`Jacks have another double-header against the Otters on Saturday to close out the four-game series, but results were not available before the Times-Standard publishing deadline. Next weekend, Humboldt will travel to Cal State East Bay for another four-game series before they host Cal State San Marcos for a series beginning March 1 for their first home games in 2024.
College of the Redwoods' softball dropped a pair on the road Friday by scores of 8-3 and 8-5 with the Corsairs still searching for their first win of the season, currently at 0-4.
After scoring a run in the first of game one, CR allowed eight straight runs to Modesto, digging themselves a hole they couldn't quite make it out of. The Corsairs scored a pair of runs in the 7th inning but it didn't affect the outcome in the 8-3 loss. Freshman pitcher Nathalia Chavez threw a complete game for CR, allowing five earned runs as she moves to 0-2 on the season. Freshman Maeghan Hampton finished 2-3 with two runs batted in while playing left field before switching into the infield at shortstop. Sophomore Kyla Cockerham scored a pair of runs for the Corsairs while going 1-4 with a stolen base.
There was just one extrabase hit in the game by either team, a Modesto double, but two fielding errors by CR didn't help them limit damage against the Pirates.
In game two Friday, the Corsairs trailed 8-2 heading into the final inning. College of the Redwoods' got a rally going, with three runners crossing the plate but eventually fell short. Back-to-back run-scoring hits by Chavez and Ashley Pierce brought the tyingrun to the on-deck circle but a strikeout of Corsairs' freshman Lily Wyatt-Carr put out the comeback attempt.
Hampton went 3-4 in the second game, finishing with five hits on the day. Pierce finished 2-4 with a pair of doubles for the Corsairs. Sophomore pitcher Allie Egbert struggled in the early goings before settling in and going the distance for CR in the loss, moving her record to 0-2 this season.
Like the `Jacks, the Corsairs follow up their doubleheader Friday with another on Saturday as they search for a win against American River College and San Mateo before home games Tuesday against Diablo Valley in what will be the home-opener for the Corsairs.