TURLOCK — (March 31) After falling 9-8 in extra innings to Western Oregon, Humboldt State's head softball coach Frank Cheek earned his 900th career victory, a 5-0 shutout of Hawaii-Hilo, on the final day of cross-pool play at the Tournament of Champions presented by Mizuno.

Western Oregon jumped on the Lumberjacks early, taking a 4-0 lead by the top of the fourth inning. Humboldt got three runs back in the bottom of the fourth, two on a double by Chrissy Motzny and one on a fielding error by the Wolves.

Western Oregon was not done, however, as they scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to go ahead 6-3.

Natalie Galletly responded for the Jacks, blasting a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, using the international tiebreak rule, the Wolves' Jamie Becker hit a three-run home run to give WOU a 9-6 lead, and the Jacks were only able to score two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Hannah Mullen-Jones took the loss for Humboldt, while Tracy Motzny, who pitched the first 6.1 innings, gave up nine hits and  four earned runs.

“This loss was my fault,” said HSU head coach Frank Cheek. “Hannah pitched a good game, I should have called some different pitches.”

The Lumberjacks bounced back against Hawaii-Hilo, using eight hits to score five runs, including four in the third. Caitlin Klug, Chrissy Motzny and Megan Sutherland had two hits apiece while Galletly tallied a two-run home run.

Lizzy Prescott (18-1) struck out nine batters while allowing just one hit.

The Lumberjacks improve to 34-4 on the season while their 4-1 tournament record advances them to the Gold championship bracket, taking on Hawaii Pacific at 11:15 a.m. Sunday.

Score by Innings                   R  H  E
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Western Oregon...... 100 301 13 -  9 10  1
Humboldt State...... 000 300 32 -  8 10  3
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Cameron 2x5; Klug 1x4; Galletly 2x3, 2B, HR, 3RBI; West 1x3; Slattery 2x4, 2B; Motzny 1x4, 2RBI; Harbeson 1x4, RBI; Sutherland RBI
Loss: Mullen-Jones (0-1)

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
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Humbolt State Univ.. 014 000 0 -  5  8  0
Hawaii Hilo......... 000 000 0 -  0  1  2
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Klug 2x4; Galletly 1x2, 2RBI, HR; Motzny,C. 2x3, 2B; Oltjenbruns 1x3; Sutherland 2x4, 2RBI
Win: Prescott (18-1)

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