ARCATA, Calif. – The Sonoma State softball team used four long balls including a grand slam from
Courtney Jack to power their way to another sweep of Cal Poly Humboldt. The Seawolves completed the four-game sweep with 10-4 and 13-3 victories while improving their CCAA record to 10-10. The two wins move the Seawolves into a tie for 4
th place in the conference.
For the second straight day SSU jumped out to an early lead in the first inning of the opening game.
Jordyn Martinez got things started with the first home run of the game, a two-out solo shot to left field.
Giana Hays followed with a walk and moved to third on a double by
Skylar Linnane.
Cassidy Romano followed with a triple to right center to score both runners and make it 3-0.
In the circle,
Camille Rodriguez continued her stellar pitching, cruising through the first three innings and allowing just two hits. Sonoma State's offense added to her cushion in the fourth inning, scoring three more runs. The Seawolves loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a fielder's choice before
Sierra Moffett was hit by a pitch to score the first run of the inning. Martinez then drove in her second run of the day with a single and Linnane picked up an RBI on a walk.
Three more runs came across in the fifth inning to extend the margin to nine. Jack led off the inning with a single and moved to third on a single by
Reagan Hunt.
Anna Zoia-Buescher drove in the seventh run on a fielder's choice and then pulled off a double steal with Hunt to make it 8-0. Later in the inning Martinez followed with her third hit and third RBI with a triple to center.
After four scoreless innings, Rodriguez was relieved by Nicole Sarra. The Lumberjacks notched two unearned runs off Sarra in the inning to extend the game to the sixth inning. In the top of the sixth, Jack ripped a double to score Romano who reached earlier on walk to make it 10-2.
Cal Poly Humboldt scored two more unearned runs on Sarra in the bottom of the sixth before she retired them in order in the seventh to earn the three inning save. Rodriguez picked up her eighth win of the season with four scoreless innings.
Martinez finished with a season best four hits and drove in three including one on a homer. She finished just a double short of the cycle with a tripe and single to go with her long ball. Jack and Hunt added two hits apiece.
The Seawolves showed off their power in the series finale, hitting a season high three home runs in the contest. SSU opened the game with a first inning run off the bat of Hays. She singled home
Rylee Nishimoto who doubled earlier in the inning. The Jacks got the run back in the bottom of the frame with a run off Jesse Dupuis.
Sonoma State broke the game open in the second inning with four runs to take a commanding 5-1 lead. After two quick outs, Moffett singled and Hunt doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Zoia-Buescher delivered the big hit with a three-run blast to left center. Nishimoto, Martinez and Hays then recorded three consecutive singles to score another. In total, the Seawolves picked up six straight hits to score the four runs.
Romano scored in the third to add to the lead, stealing third and scoring on an errant throw. Humboldt cut the lead to three with a pair of runs in the third inning. The Seawolves closed the door in the fourth with a seven spot to go ahead 13-3. Zoia-Buescher led off with a single and Nishimoto and Hays both reached to load the bases. Jack followed with a grand slam, the team's first of the season to make it 10-3 but the Seawolves were not done. After a pair of walks, Hunt delivered her second three-run homer in as many days to push the advantage up to 10.
Dupuis finished it from there, allowing just two hits in the final two innings to complete her eighth win of the season. Zoia-Buescher, Nishimoto, Hays and Hunt recorded two hits apiece. Jack led the team with four runs batted in while Hunt and Zoia-Buescher tacked on three apiece.
The Seawolves have won seven of their last eight and are now 18-13 overall on the season. They return home this week for a four-game set against Cal State San Bernardino starting on Friday. All games will be live streamed on ccaanetwork.com.