Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TURLOCK – Freshman pitcher Katie Obbema gave up no earned runs in 13 innings at the Tournament of Champions (TOC) on Sunday, but it was only good enough for a split as the Lumberjacks defeated Sonoma State (1-0) and lost to Cal State Dominguez Hills (2-1).
 
“We beat the team we needed to beat,” said HSU head coach Cheek of the victory over Sonoma. “It was a great game, and we played great ball all the way around.”
 
Humboldt (33-11 overall) finished the TOC tied for third after winning five games and losing two. The Toros defeated Saint Martin's in the championship game, 8-2, to win the tourney title. Obbema, who had four wins at the TOC, was named to the all-tournament team.
 
Obbema (15-3) pitched a five-hit shutout to defeat Sonoma State in the first game on Sunday, keeping the Seawolves at bay by giving up mostly pop ups and ground outs. Sonoma did not hit its first fly ball until the sixth inning.
 
“Obbema threw great all weekend,” Cheek said. “Sonoma leads the league in stolen bases, and they didn't get any against us.” The Seawolves are ranked 11th in the nation in stolen bases per game (2.39), but Obbema did not allow a runner to reach second base.
 
Stalf knocked in the only of the game in the third with a line-drive single past the first baseman that scored junior Andrea Chavez from second. Chavez had singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.
 
In the sixth inning of the 2-1 loss to CSU Dominguez Hills, Stalf connected on her 19th home run of the season, and 48th of her career.  It cut the HSU deficit in half, but the Jacks could get no closer.
 
Dominguez Hills scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the third when, after a single and two errors, sophomore Kaci McGinnis hit a 2-run bloop single just over the head of third baseman Julie Pena.
 
Stalf was the only Humboldt player to get a hit in each of the two games.
 
“Our other big hitters were getting behind in the count,” Cheek said. “We have to learn to swing at the first pitch with these good pitchers.”
 
Humboldt (20-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association) will play host to Sonoma State (18-6 in league) on Friday and Saturday in a pair of doubleheaders in a match-up between the top two teams in the CCAA. Friday's games begin at 1 p.m., and Saturday's at 11 a.m.
 
“If we can take two out of four against Sonoma, we will be good shoes,” Cheek said. It's going to be a dogfight. Their ace is a good pitcher.”
 
It will be a classic match-up of speed vs. power. The Jacks lead the nation with 74 home runs while the Seawolves have 89 stolen bases compared to HSU's 13.
 
The Jacks will likely have freshman Lizzie Perez back in the rotation for the Sonoma series. She missed the TOC after getting a concussion when she was hit in the head with a ball during practice last week.