ARCATA – Sophomore Dani Randall put up monster numbers in the four-game series vs. UC San Diego to earn Worth/CCAA Player of the Week honors. She was 8-for-12 with three home runs, a triple, a double and 12 RBI. She also reached based four more times after being hit once and walked three times.
 
With the California Collegiate Athletic Association regular season title already secured, the HSU softball team now looks toward senior day, then postseason.
 
“I feel that for the first time we're back on top,” said head coach Frank Cheek. “At one time we had a losing record but we fought our way back.”
 
Humboldt State is more than on top. The Lumberjacks, currently ranked sixth in the nation, lead the conference in home runs (88, which is also leads the nation), hits (411), and RBI (279). The Jacks have locked down the regular season conference title before the regular season has even ended with a six-game advantage over second place UC San Diego. Senior first baseman Chrissy Stalf has now tied Humboldt State's career home run record (50), and the numbers go on. But there are still many more games to play and more records to break.
 
“The west is tough,” said Cheek. “This is the toughest of all the regions. There are so many good pitchers, so many good teams and so many good players. Anyone in the region can beat you. You can peak too early, but I don't think that's been the case.”
 
This weekend the Lumberjacks (40-12 overall, 27-5 in CCAA) will see Cal State San Bernardino (18-32 overall, 12-20 in CCAA) at home this weekend in doubleheaders Friday at 1 p.m. and Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.
 
The six seniors – Serena Aragones, Hannah Brassmassery, Erin Guidarelli, Courtney Hiatt, Claire Hoose and Chrissy Stalf – will be honored before Saturday's first game.
 
“San Bernardino is hot and cold,” said Cheek. “They took four from Chico and then San Francisco beat them three out of four. We're full strength, and nobody's hurt. Lizzie Perez is coming around. She came back and looked good. She won the second game for us on Saturday, so she's back in her groove. They have some hitters, they have some speed and they like to steal. But we have the best catcher in the league (Courtney Hiatt). People we play learn to not run on her. Last week they tried and it didn't work. The week before that they tried and it didn't work. Hiatt is at the top of her game. We want them to steal. We feel the odds are in our favor when they try to steal.”
 
The Jacks have clinched the top seed in the CCAA Tournament, May 3-5 in Stockton at Arnaiz Stadium. Humboldt will play its first game at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 3 against the number four seed.
 
Last Weekend – San Bernardino
The Coyotes were on the road playing in doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday at San Francisco State. San Bernardino escaped being swept with one win out of four games (0-5, 4-5, 2-1, 2-6). On Friday the Coyotes were shut out in game one with only two batters reaching base, each with a single. San Bernardino came up short in game two, this time in eight innings in a back-and-forth battle that was forced into extra innings. Kacey Cota took the loss in game one and Monica Cartwright the loss in game two. Saturday started on a positive note for the Coyotes, winning the front end of the doubleheader 2-1. Monica Ferguson poked one over the fence for San Bernardino's only two runs, which was all they needed to secure the win. The Gators came back in the nightcap with an early lead they never let go, beating the Coyotes 6-2.
 
Last Weekend – Humboldt State
The Jacks had a big weekend, securing the regular season conference title and Stalf tying Taiisha Pleasant's career home run record of 50. However, those were not the only important highlights. The Lumberjacks were unrelenting as they cruised past second place UC San Diego (11-3, 8-5, 11-3, 5-3) in a clean sweep in their second one-two matchup in a row. Dani Randall had a weekend to remember, knocking three over, hitting the team's first triple, adding a double and topping it off with 12 RBI. Hannah Williams also added three home runs on the series, including a grand slam. Katie Obbema pitched her way to three wins for a league-leading 20 victories while Lizzie Perez got the win in game two on Saturday.
 
Head-to-Head
Humboldt State leads the all-time series against the Coyotes 39-19. Last year when the Lumberjacks traveled to San Bernardino they split the series in some high scoring ball games (9-8, 11-15, 13-8, 14-15).
 
Live Media
Live stat link can be found at:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/humboldt/softball/scoreboard.aspx
 
San Bernardino Notes
Alyssa Flores leads the Coyotes with 60 hits, 12 doubles and 7 home runs. Flores also leads the team with a .405 average, which is third in the conference and 46 RBI, fourth in the conference. ... San Bernardino is currently eighth in the CCAA. ... Sophomore pitcher Kaitlyn Randall (6-15) has thrown 74 strikeouts in 107.2 innings of work.
 
Humboldt State Notes
The Lumberjacks have the top ranking in the West Region. ... After the weekend, Obbema now leads the CCAA with 20 wins. Perez sits at fourth with 16 wins. ... Stalf's average (.401) is fifth in the conference. The senior also leads the CCAA in home runs (21). ... As a team, the Jacks have recorded 279 RBI, 127 more than their opponents. Humboldt State's 88 home runs are nearly triple its opponents' total of 30. Each Lumberjack starter has at least one home run. … Dani Randall has a nine-game hitting streak.