ARCATA — The Cal State Stanislaus Warriors just can't get that Humboldt State monkey off their backs.

The Warriors softball team had chances to take two from the defending national champion Lumberjacks on Friday in Arcata, but instead dropped both ends of the conference doubleheader to No. 6 Humboldt State, 6-3 and 7-6.

With the sweep, the Warriors dropped to 24-14 overall and 11-11 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Humboldt State has now won 15 straight games over Cal State Stanislaus since 2007, including ending CSUS's season last spring. HSU improved to 31-12 and 19-7 in the CCAA.

In two games, the Warriors had plenty of offense and chances to score, but were missing some key hits as they left a total of 22 runners on base.

Leading 5-1 through four innings in game two, the Warriors watched the Lumberjacks rally for six runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take over the game to complete the sweep. Marissa Slattery hit two homers in consecutive at bats during the comeback with a two-run shot in the fifth and another two-run jack in the sixth.

Stanislaus had jumped on top of HSU with two runs in the first inning when Ashlee Genseal drove in two scores with an one-out single. Stanislaus then scored three times in the fourth. Alyssa Guzman doubled in a run and pinch hitter Alicia Reid knocked in two with a double to help the Warriors to a 5-1 lead.

HSU then chased starter Jennifer Arnold in the fifth after Slattery's first two-run home run. The Lumberjacks continued to get hits as they scored three runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings off reliever Stacey Hains.

Cal State Stanislaus had a chance in the seventh to do some damage with two on and two outs, Nikky Rissetto drew a walk to load the bases to allow leadoff batter Erica McIntyre to bat. McIntyre was hit by a pitch to make it 7-6. HSU's Gracie Perez then got the next batter to strike out looking to end the game.

Genseal finished game one with a 2-for-4, 3 RBI performance and three other Warriors — Kimiko Wright, Britney Borba and Guzman --  each also had two hits.

In the opener, Warrior starter Jessica Gaumnitz uncharacteristically gave up three home runs and two doubles in one inning to allow Humboldt State to score five runs in the fourth inning.

Natalie Galletly and Lindsay Warren hit back-to-back home runs to start the inning and with one out Caitlin Klug doubled ahead of Francesca West's home run to left for a 4-1 HSU lead. Nikki Ketteringham capped off the HSU rally with a run-scoring double that plated Chrissy Motzny.

Cal State Stanislaus answered right back with back-to-back solo homers by Meghan Franksen and Genseal to cut the deficit to 5-3. HSU added an insurance run in the fifth off reliever Hains for the final count.

Box Scores:
Game 1
Game 2