Softball drops two games against Humboldt State

NIC softball lost against Humboldt State University Wednesday evening 13-4 and again on Thursday evening 19-1.

Grace Shimatsu makes contact with a pitch in NIC’s 19-1 loss against Humboldt State. This is Shimatsu’s third season at NIC due to her second season being cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Humboldt State University is a four-year Division II that plays in the California Collegiate Athletic Association conference but scheduled a pair of games against NIC for non-conference games.

The Cards fell behind quickly in both games, but unlike their thrilling game against Spokane, NIC couldn’t keep up with the offensive outburst put up by the Jacks. In Thursday’s 19-1 loss, a solo home run by Aleksya Batoon in the final inning kept NIC from being blanked in the final tally.

The Cards next scheduled game is a doubleheader against Spokane at home on Thursday, April 8 at 2 p.m. The Cards currently hold a nine-game-winning against Spokane with their last loss against the rival coming in 2017.

Quick Observations:

• Grace Shimatsu is the only non-first-year player on NIC’s roster. She also forced at least one walk in each of NIC’s three games thus far.
• Addison Ribordy has been on an absolute tear to start the season. She currently leads the Cards in hits with seven, holds a .778 batting average, has two triples and five RBIs.
• No members of the NWAC East hold a winning record.