Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ARCATA – A grand slam by senior Courtney Hiatt kept the momentum in Humboldt State's favor on Saturday, heading into the team's first postseason appearance in four years. The Jacks, who swept CSU San Bernardino (11-0, 6-2), will be the top seed in next weekend's California Collegiate Athletic Association Softball Championship tournament.
 
Humboldt will play Cal State Dominguez Hills at 3 p.m. on Friday at Arnaiz Stadium in Stockton. The Toros have won nine straight games. The other tournament game will be between UC San Diego and Sonoma State at 5:30 p.m. Humboldt's game will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 1340 and on hsujacks.com.
 
It was Hiatt's third grand slam of the season, and the team's eighth. The Jacks (31-5 in the CCAA and 44-12 overall) have 97 home runs to lead the nation.
 
“They walked Chrissy (Stalf) to get to me, and that just started a fire in me,” Hiatt said.  “You can't walk anybody to get to anybody in our lineup. It's crazy. Bases loaded – it doesn't scare me. If I was a freshman or sophomore – or even last year – I may be scared. I just have more confidence in myself. I just get up there and swing the bat.”
 
One swing of the bat in the bottom of the fifth gave Hiatt her 13th home run of the season, and ended the first game, 11-0. San Bernardino drops to 12-24 in league and 18-36 overall.
 
“I think we are peaking at the right time,” said HSU head coach Frank Cheek. “Got to give Hiatt credit. It was a nice grand slam. Our pitching was good. We shut them out in the first game.”
 
Freshman Katie Obbema (23-3) got the win in both games, pitching a three-hit shutout in the opener, and coming on in relief in the nightcap.
 
“I went out there with the same mentality, I mean, I just have to throw strikes,” Obbema said  “I wanted to do it for my seniors.” The six HSU seniors – Serena Aragones, Hannah Brassmassery, Erin Guidarelli, Hiatt, Claire Hoose, and Stalf – were honored in a pregame ceremony.
 
“I couldn't think of a better way to have a senior day,” Hiatt said of her walk-off grand slam.  “It's nice to go out like this. I love my team. We have worked so hard to get back to where Humboldt softball should be. I am so happy we worked so hard to get here. We have two freshmen pitchers who have stepped up. Our hitting is amazing. I would be afraid to pitch to us.”
 
Sophomore Dani Randall extended her hitting streak to 13 games, getting a pair of hits in each game. Her batting average has gone from .280 to .358 during the streak.
 
Freshman Julie Pena (10) and junior Andrea Chavez (2) each hit solo home runs in the nightcap.
 
Hiatt, who went 3-for-6 with five RBI, also shined on defense, tagging out Charlotte Galzote who tried to score from second on a single.  Hiatt fielded the throw from centerfielder Tonya Walker on a bounce and applied the tag. San Bernardino got five hits in the inning, but that play stifled a big rally and held the Coyotes to one run in the inning.