ROHNERT PARK, CALIF.- Sonoma State kicked off their CCAA home opener against the visiting Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks on Seawolf Softball Field. The afternoon was filled with 14 innings of down to the wire softball with Sonoma putting together an outstanding rally late in the second game and emerging with a double-header split.

Game One: SSU 1, CPH 2

The first game of the day was a low scoring, defensive battle with the Lumberjacks surviving a late push from the Seawolves. The Seawolves ace, Charlie Johnson, earned the starting nod and pitched another complete game for her squad. Johnson only allowed five hits while striking out three batters and forcing 17 total groundouts or flyouts. Johnson has been a machine notching her fifth, seven inning complete game on the year. 

Offensively, it was a slow start with both teams combining for 10 hits. Freshman center fielder Sophia Newcomb has been outstanding to start her college career and game one was no different. She chipped in two more hits and a run scored to get the Seawovles their lone point of the game. Despite being only a freshman, Newcomb has now totaled 10 games this year with multiple hits.

Taylor Rapp has been hot at the plate with a season long batting average of .360 so far this season. She added another RBI to her statsheet with a perfectly hit ball out to leftfield that drove in Newcomb to get the game within a single score. The final push from the Seawolves came late in the seventh inning with Iris Bejarano lining a double out to center field to get her team within striking distance. Unfortunately, the Seawolves came up just short but made sure to exact some revenge during the second game of the afternoon. 

Game Two: SSU 5, CPH 4

The Lumberjacks looked to carry over their momentum from the earlier game and managed to strike first in the second outing of the day. A two run home run in the third inning and an RBI single in the fifth saw Humboldt jump out to a 3-0 lead. Lauren Mirtoni responded late in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to get the Seawolves on the board and set the stage for an outstanding closing effort from the team. 

Trailing 4-1 heading into the final frame of play Sonoma had the Lumberjacks right where they wanted them. Gaby Enyart, pinch hitting for Carissa Marquez, singled to left field to kickstart the rally. Next, Sam Delgado would get hit by a pitch earning her a place on base and advancing Enyart. A wild pitch and another Mirtoni sacrifice fly would tie the game at four apiece. Jasmine Moreno would proceed to draw a walk and fellow catcher Taylor Rapp popped a single out to left field to set the stage for a walk-off win. Thankfully, Iris Bejarano was ready to continue her late game heroics. The Seawolves first baseman doubled to get into scoring position during the first game but was left on base. This time, Bejarano with Moreno in scoring position, singled to center field and secured the walk-off win!

The Seawolves pulled out a clutch win and will be poised to keep the momentum rolling as they take on the Lumberjacks for another double-header tomorrow!