TURLOCK — (May 10) No. 8 seed Seattle University's Erin Martin fanned 10 Humboldt State batters while her battery used five hits and one Lumberjack error to push a pair of runs across the plate in a 2-0 upset win in both teams opening game at the 2007 NCAA Division II West Region Softball Championship in Turlock.
The Lumberjacks, seeded No. 1 in the tournament, fall to 54-7 on the season while the Redhawks improve to 32-21, knocking off the Jacks for the first time in three tries this season.
With one out in the top of the third, HSU starting pitcher
Lizzy Prescott allowed her first runner on base, hitting Katie Ledbetter. Amanda Nilles followed with a double down the left field line and Katie Petersen reached on an error by HSU's
Carolyn Cameron, sending Ledbetter across the plate.
Humboldt had runners on first and second in the bottom of the fourth, and later had a runner on second, but the Jacks were unable to get a clutch hit in either situation.
“The key word is choke,” said HSU head coach Frank Cheek. “We choked. It's that simple. We never hit a ball hard all day.”
Caitlin Klug and
Francesca West each recorded a hit in the game while Martin's 10 strikeouts was the most against the Lumberjacks' battery all season.
“Martin threw a great game,” said Cheek. “She hit her spots and kept our hitters at bay with good control.”
Prescott lost for just the fourth time all season, despite throwing a strong game. The junior struck out seven in 6.1 innings while
Tracy Motzny came in for the final two outs, striking out one.
Humboldt will now face No. 5 seed Hawaii Pacific, 2-0 losers to Hawaii-Hilo, in an elimination game Friday at 9 a.m.
Score by Innings R H E
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Seattle University.. 001 000 1 - 2 5 0
Humboldt State...... 000 000 0 - 0 2 1
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Klug 1x3; West 1x3
Loss: Prescott (31-4)
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