Box Score STOCKTON – Bombs away – no fence is far enough or high enough to keep the Humboldt State home runs from flying out as the Lumberjacks hit three long balls to defeat CSU Dominguez Hills, 4-1, in the first game of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship tournament on Friday.
 
The fences at Arnaiz Stadium are eight to 10 feet tall, and sophomore Hannah Williams had no problem finding the other side twice, hitting a first-pitch solo homer to center in the bottom of the second to tie the game, 1-1. Her second home run was a two-run shot in the fourth on an 0-2 pitch that she crushed to left field, giving HSU a 4-1 lead.
 
“I just go up there trying to hit the ball hard,” Williams said. “Coach told us that (Stephanie Jimenez) was throwing some first-pitch strikes so I went up there swinging. It worked out well. I looked for something I could drive. Whether it's 0-2 or 1-2 or whatever, I just look for a pitch to hit hard.”
 
Chrissy Stalf hit a solo shot in the third – her 25th of the season and 54th of her career – both HSU and CCAA all-time highs.
 
“We hit the long ball,” said HSU head coach Frank Cheek. “Three home runs, that's 100, I think, if my math is correct. We needed it. We live and die by the home run.”
 
HSU leads the nation with 100 home runs.
 
Katie Obbema (24-3) gave up a home run to Adriana Sanchez on the first pitch of the game, then loaded the bases. But after getting out of trouble, she set down 14 of 15 batters through the middle innings.
 
 “Giving up the home run, I was not really expecting that one,” Obbema said. “She swung at it and I realized she was sitting on anything up or a rise ball. Once I got back in, I took a deep breath and settled down.  And I realized we have to score to win and they only got one run.  I just had to move on to the next inning and know that my teammates had my back.”
 
The Toros (34-20 overall) loaded the bases in the seventh with one out, but Obbema got Brittany Brenner to fly out to center and Jimenez to ground out to shortstop to end the game. Humboldt climbs to 45-12 overall.
 
Humboldt will play Sonoma State at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 1340 AM with the pregame show beginning at 12:45 p.m. Sonoma defeated UC San Diego on Friday, 5-2.