Box Score SALEM, Virg. – Even a home run has to land eventually, and this season's Year of the Home Run for Humboldt State concluded with a 5-3 loss to Armstrong at the NCAA Division II Softball Championships on Saturday.
 
The Jacks (53-14) finish the season fifth in the nation after starting the season picked to be sixth in the conference.
 
Sophomore Dani Randall hit a solo home run in the fifth inning for what would prove to be Humboldt's final, and 114th, long ball of the season, an NCAA single-season record. Randall's shot to right center brought the Jacks within two runs, but a furious seventh inning rally where Humboldt loaded the bases on singles with one out could not produce any runs.
 
Armstrong scored a run in the second, then added a pair of runs in both the third and fourth. Three of the runs were unearned thanks to a dropped fly ball to centerfielder Tonya Walker in the third and a misplay at the bag at first by Megan Wink on a bunt
 
“The two errors hurt us,” said HSU head coach Frank Cheek. “Our centerfielder has been great all year with great catches. If you remember the other day she came in and caught a ball behind second base with the wind blowing it badly. It was a great catch. With the wind today and the ball carrying, she didn't quite catch up with it. And it cost us dearly. Then we had an error in the infield that cost us.”
 
It wasn't all errors, however, as Armstrong pounded out 11 hits against Katie Obbema and Lizzie Perez. Obbema got the start but gave way to Perez in the second inning.
 
“They hit the ball,” Cheek said. “I was pleased with the way our pitchers hung in there. They never quit. That's a good hitting team and I wouldn't be surprised if they go a long ways. They were smart; they didn't pitch to (Chrissy) Stalf. I wouldn't pitch to her either.”
 
Stalf was intentionally walked three times, all three times with runners already on base. At the postgame press conference, a reporter said she looked a little frustrated by the third intentional walk – the 11th of the season for Stalf.
 
“It's frustrating, especially knowing it's my last game ever. Yeah – it's frustrating,” Stalf said.
 
Stalf ends her storied career with big numbers in the NCAA and Humboldt State record books. Her 28 home runs this year tied the NCAA single-season record. Her 57 career home runs are the best ever at HSU and in the conference, and ties the fifth best career mark in the NCAA Div. II. Stalf set the HSU single-season marks in slugging percentage (.854), runs scored (71), walks (53) and, of course, home runs (28).
 
This was Humboldt's sixth trip to the NCAA Div. II Softball Championships, and the Jacks have an all-time record of 17-9 at the tournament. Twice the Jacks won the national title (1999 and 2008).
 
The team will return to Humboldt County by charter jet on Sunday, itinerary TBA.