LA JOLLA, Calif. - The No. 10 UC San Diego softball team split its pair of games against Humboldt State on Friday afternoon, defeating the Lumberjacks 6-2 before falling 9-4 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play at Triton Softball Field.
UCSD is 17-3 overall in 2011 and 11-2 in conference competition. The loss to the 'Jacks snaps a seven-game winning streak for the Tritons. Humboldt State is 10-7 overall and 5-5 in CCAA play.
Kris Lesovsky launched a three-run homerun to left field in the bottom of the fifth of the opening game, providing the game-changing runs in what was a 2-2 stalemate. The homerun marked Lesovsky's third in five games as she increases her career total to 21, second-most in school history.
Camille Gaito (10-0) gave up a leadoff homerun to HSU first baseman Chrissy Stalf to start the day as the Tritons found themselves down by two heading into the bottom half of the second.
The Tritons loaded the bases on a pair of two-out walks. Taylor Sepulveda singled hard up the middle to score Kirsten Willmon and HSU pitcher Vaneza Hoover (4-2) followed with an illegal pitch to force home Lesovsky as UCSD tied it, 2-2.
UCSD loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning with one out, however, Willmon would go down swinging and Sepulveda popped up to left field to leave the 'Jacks unscathed. The Tritons would leave 14 runners on base in game one.
After Lesovsky's homerun in the fifth, Gaito retired the Lumberjacks in order in the final two frames on her way to her ninth complete game. Nicole Spangler would add an RBI single in the sixth, going 2-for-3 in game one. Lesovsky was 1-for-1 with two runs scored, three RBI and four walks.
Humboldt State got on the board early in the second game, combining for eight hits and seven runs against UCSD starter Tess Granath (5-3). Jenn Manuel (2-0) finished the last 5.1 innings for the Tritons; however, UCSD could not climb out of an early seven-run hole.
Consecutive errors by HSU shortstop Geneva Perrine gave the Tritons two runners aboard with no out in the bottom of the second. Mya Romero followed with an RBI single through the right side and Sarah Woofter cracked a double to bring in two runs, as UCSD cut the deficit to four, 7-3.
Romero notched another RBI single to bring home Esther Strom to make it 7-4 in the bottom of the fourth, but the Tritons would leave the bases loaded for their fourth time on the day.
Manuel surrendered just four hits and a pair of runs in her fourth appearance of the season. The Tritons would leave another 10 runners on base in the second game. Romero finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
UCSD returns to Triton Softball Field for the last leg of its series with Humboldt State on Saturday, March 5, at 11:00 a.m. As always, admission is free to any Triton home doubleheader.
