ARCATA – The streak may be over, but the big games are still ahead.
 
The Humboldt State softball team had its 18-game win streak broken, but the Jacks are staying focused as they head into one of the biggest series of the season.
 
This weekend the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) ninth ranked Lumberjacks (33-11 overall) will host the 16th ranked Sonoma State Seawolves (31-9 overall) in doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday at the HSU Softball Field.
 
The four-game series features the top two teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Humboldt State is on top with a conference record of 20-4, while the Seawolves sit in second, 18-6 in league.
 
The contests Friday will begin at 1 p.m., and Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 11 a.m.
 
Last Weekend – Humboldt State
The Lumberjacks had a busy three days as they traveled to Turlock for the Tournament of Champions hosted by Cal State Stanislaus. Tournament play began Friday when the Lumberjacks were matched up with Azusa Pacific, Saint Martin's and Central Washington. The Jacks won their first contest against Azusa Pacific (3-0) where Hannah Williams pitched a six-hit shutout. The second game of the day brought the Humboldt State winning streak to a halt as the Lumberjacks lost a back-and-forth battle to Saint Martin's (5-4). The loss did not hinder their performance as team came back to beat Central Washington (2-1) in eight innings. The Jacks faced Montana State Billings on Saturday, a team they lost to in the Desert Stinger Tournament early in the season. This game brought a different ending with HSU winning (5-4). To end pool play, the Jacks eased by Western Washington (8-3) to advance to the championship bracket. The Lumberjacks saw Sonoma State in their first game of bracket play Sunday, scoring just one run on an RBI single by Chrissy Stalf. One run was all they needed as they defeated the Seawolves (1-0). Humboldt State then advanced to play Cal State Dominguez Hills, a team they swept earlier in the season, falling this time (2-1).
 
Last Weekend – Sonoma State
Humboldt State handed the Seawolves their only loss this past weekend as Sonoma State went 5-0 until their meeting with the Lumberjacks. All of their Friday matchups were close as two of the Seawolves' three games on Friday were forced into extra innings. Sonoma State battled Hawai'i Pacific in its first contest, winning in eight innings (8-5). In their second matchup of the day, the Seawolves took on Tournament of Champions host Cal State Stanislaus, winning in nine innings (7-5). Sonoma won their last game of the day versus the Notre Dame de Namur Argonauts (2-1). The Seawolves met Simon Fraser and Western Oregon on Saturday, taking both games easily 6-0 and 7-1, respectively. Sonoma lost their first and only game on Sunday in the championship bracket to the Lumberjacks (1-0).
 
Head-to-Head
Humboldt State leads the all-time series versus Sonoma State 100-26. The Lumberjacks beat the Seawolves in their meeting Sunday in the Tournament of Champions (1-0). Last year the Jacks faced Sonoma State in Rohnert Park, dropping three of four to the Seawolves (0-1, 0-1, 0-6, 4-2).
 
Live Media
Live stat link can be found at: http://www.sidearmstats.com/humboldt/softball/scoreboard.aspx
 
Sonoma State Notes
The Seawolves currently lead the CCAA in hits (351), doubles (57), triples (11), and stolen bases (89). ... Senior pitcher Samanth Lipperd leads the CCAA in wins (18) and strikeouts (166) and is second in the conference in ERA (1.51) ... Ali Palermo leads the Seawolves with nine home runs, 40 RBI and a .411 average.
 
Humboldt State Notes
Stalf increased her career home run total to 48, two away from tying Humboldt State's career home run record set by Taiisha Pleasant (1997-2000). Stalf now has 19 home runs on the season, breaking the previous single-season record (18), which she set in 2011 as a sophomore. ... Humboldt State has hit 74 home runs on the season – the most in the naton. Three Lumberjacks are now in double-digit home run totals: Stalf (19), Courtney Hiatt (11), and Hannah Williams (10). Williams is also second in the conference in RBI with 43. ... Katie Obbema (15-3) and Lizzie Perez (14-4) are second and third in the CCAA in number of wins. Obbema earned All-Tournament Team honors after her performance this weekend at the Tournament of Champions.