SAN BERNARDINO - The Humboldt State softball team finished its regular season by splitting a non-conference doubleheader with Cal State San Bernardino on Sunday, winning the opener, 8-4, and dropping the second game, 10-2.

The Lumberjacks finished their regular season with a 37-16 overall mark, while the Coyotes end their 2009 season with a 23-35 record.

"For us to win we have to out hit our opponents and today we hit a number of home runs," Humboldt State head softball coach Frank Cheek said. "Our defense had a few errors but (CSUSB) is a good hitting team."

After four scoreless innings HSU finally broke game one open with a five-run inning. Ashley Oltjenbruns led off the inning with a solo blast to left field. Felicia Viveiros and Geneva Perrine followed with a single and reach on fielder's choice, respectively, before Caitlin Klug drove them in with a home run to left. After the first out of the inning Marissa Slattery hit the Jacks' third homer to jump to a 5-0 lead.

Answering back with two runs of its own was CSUSB in the bottom half of the inning. After a Jacquelyn Holtzclaw single, Felicia Shepler walk and runners advancing one base off a wild pitch, Alex Mitchell singled through the right side to score the Coyotes first run. Pinch hitter Maggie Karros followed with a one-RBI single down the left field line to cut the Jacks lead by three.

The Jacks added three insurance runs with two in the sixth and one in seventh to take game one 8-4. Back-to-back RBIs by a Klug double and Nikki Ketteringham single platted runs in the sixth, while Lindsay Warren crossed home plate in the seventh as Viveiros reached on a fielder's choice.

CSUSB added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth off of a Tori Beaudette two-RBI double down the left field line.

Gracie Perez improved her record to 18-5 with the win striking out two and giving up four runs off of nine hits. Courtney Wilhelms (4-8) picked up the loss for CSUSB giving up one earned run and six hits.

HSU recorded its two runs of game two as Slattery hit her second home run of the day in the first and Viveiros blasted a shot to left field in the second.

In the bottom of the first the Coyotes platted four runs off back-to-back two-RBI hits. Beaudette led off the scoring rally with a double through the right side and was followed by a Holtzclaw single to right center.

CSUSB added six insurance runs with four in the third and two in the fourth to end the game in the fifth. With the bases loaded pinch runner Erin Fernandez scored when Beaudette was hit by the pitch off of starter Nichole Parada. After a strike out Jocelyn Perry doubled to drive in Felicia Cervantes and Priscilla Curiel. Beaudette finished the inning's scoring off of an error by the second baseman. Beaudette finished the Coyotes scoring in the fourth with a two-run double to take the game 10-2.

Debbie Shisler (13-12) picked up the win for CSUSB giving up two runs of of seven hits in 5 innings. Reliever Jenna Anderson (6-6) registered the loss for the Jacks walking two batters and giving up six runs off of eight hits.

Ketteringham and Francesca West both went 3-for-4 in game one, while Slattery went 2-for-3 in game two.

No. 1 seed HSU begins the 2009 California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament on Wednesday, April 30, when they take on No. 4 seed Sonoma State at 4:30 p.m.

"We did what had to, we won three out of the four conference games to win the league," Cheek said. "This is a tough conference and considering how far we came with such a young pitching staff as a coach you have to be satisfied. From here on out we need good pitching performances. Our pitchers will have to hold the line. We look forward to conference and the west region. If we're on we'll win."


Game One

Humboldt State 8, CSU San Bernardino 4 (Apr.26,2009 at CSU San Bernardino) (Game 1)
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Humboldt State...... 000 052 1 -  8 14  2      (37-15)
CSU San Bernardino.. 000 022 0 -  4  9  1      (22-35)
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Pitchers: Humboldt State - PEREZ. CSU San Bernardino - WILHELMS; LEE(5); KARROS(6);
GODFREDSON(6); SHISLER(7).
Win-PEREZ(18-5)  Loss-WILHELMS(4-8)  T-2:15  A-125
HR HSU - SLATTERY; OLTJENBRUNS; KLUG.
WILHELMS faced 2 batters in the 5th.
Game: 09SOFT64

Game Two

CSU San Bernardino 10, Humboldt State 2 (Apr.26, 2009 at CSU San Bernardino) (Game 2)
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Humboldt State...... 110 00 -  2  7  1      (37-16)
CSU San Bernardino.. 404 2X - 10 12  0      (23-35)
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Pitchers: Humboldt State - ANDERSON; PARADA(3). CSU San Bernardino - GODFREDSON; SHISLER(1).
Win-SHISLER(13-12)  Loss-ANDERSON(6-6)  T-1:15  A-125
HR HSU - SLATTERY; VIVIEROS.
Game: 09SOFT6