LA JOLLA — (April 7) With a 7-2 win over UC San Diego, Humboldt State's softball team reached 40 wins for the 16th consecutive season, but not before the Tritons claimed a 5-4 victory in California Collegiate Athletic Association action Saturday in La Jolla.

The Lumberjacks move to 40-5 overall and 18-2 in the CCAA while the Tritons are now 24-22 overall and 15-11 in league play.

The Tritons' offense exploded in the first game of the day, knocking out 11 hits off of Lumberjack starter Lizzy Prescott. UCSD scored two runs in the first, one in the third and two more in the fourth, putting HSU in a 5-0 hole by the fifth inning.

The Jacks rallied to score four runs in the top of the fifth, but would score no more as they fell for just the second time in league action. Despite two hits apiece by Megan Sutherland and Nancy Harbeson, Humboldt's offense was cold and produced just six total hits.

Prescott took the loss for Humboldt, dropping to 23-2 on the season. Along with the 11 hits allowed, she gave up four earned runs and struck out just four. Tracy Motzny pitched the final two innings of the game, allowing just one hit in seven batters faces.

In the nightcap, UCSD tallied a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead, but the Jacks would not allow a repeat of the first game, erupting for five runs in the third and two more in the fifth.

Sutherland, Caitlin Klug and Vanessa Shernock all had home runs in the win while Cameron went 3-for-4. Chrissy Motzny and Marissa Slattery also each recorded a pair of hits.

Tracy Motzny (17-2), turned in a strong performance in the circle, pitching the complete game. After giving up the two earned runs on three hits in the first inning, Motzny settled down to to record five strikeouts and three hits the remaining six innings.

The Lumberjacks return to Arcata next week, hosting Cal State Bakersfield in a four-game series on the HSU Softball field.

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
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Humboldt State...... 000 040 0 -  4  6  1
UC San Diego........ 201 200 X -  5 12  1
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Klug 1x3, 2B; Sutherland 2x3, 2B, RBI; Nancy Harbeson 2x3, RBI; Oltjenbruns 1x3
Loss: Prescott (23-2)

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
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Humboldt State...... 005 020 0 -  7 12  2
UC San Diego........ 200 000 0 -  2  6  1
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Cameron 3x4, RBI; Klug 1x3, HR, 2RBI; Galletly 1x4; Sutherland 2x4, HR, RBI; Slattery 2x4, RBI; Motzny,C. 2x3, 2B, 2RBI; Shernock 1x2, HR, 2RBI
Win: Motzny,T. (17-2)

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