ARCATA, Calif. - Following nine league series to qualify, Humboldt State aims to repeat as the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament champion this weekend.

     The defending West Region and CCAA Tournament champion Lumberjacks travel to Stockton, Calif., and Arnaiz Stadium, where the league's championship tournament will be held for the sixth year in a row.

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HSU seeks to pull ahead in CCAA Tourney title list

     After tying Sonoma State last May, HSU seeks to pull ahead of the CCAA Tournament champion crowns lead this weekend. HSU and Sonoma State are tied with two tournament championships since 2007. The Jacks won in 2007 in Arcata and last year in Stockton, while the Seawolves won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011.

     UC San Diego and Cal State Monterey Bay will try to become the third program with two tournament crowns. UC San Diego claimed the 2012 honor and Cal State Monterey Bay was declared the champion in a 2009 championship game rainout.

HSU opens against UC San Diego Friday night

     After finishing second in the final regular season league standings, HSU will open the CCAA Tournament against No. 3 seed UC San Diego. The Jacks and Tritons will take the field at approximately 7 p.m. on Friday night.

     Top seed Cal State Monterey Bay will take on No. 4 seed Sonoma State in the opener with a 4:30 p.m. first pitch.

HSU holds steady at No. 6 in NFCA Top 25

     For the second week in a row, HSU held steady at the same No. 6 ranking in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Top 25 poll.

     West Texas A&M (50-4) kept its unanimous No. 1 rank on the power of a 23-game win streak. Alabama-Huntsville (39-7) and Cal State Monterey Bay (44-7) also stayed at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. North Georgia (43-9) moved up one place to No. 4 and Minnesota St. Mankato (41-9) jumped three spots to No. 5.

Jacks fall one spot to No. 4 in West Region rankings

   In the most important rankings, HSU fell one spot to No. 4 in the latest NCAA Division II West Region ratings. The Jacks dropped to No. 4 from No. 3 after going 2-2 last week. Cal State Monterey Bay stayed in the top spot with Dixie State remaining at No. 2. Cal Baptist flipped places with HSU to No. 3. After No. 4 HSU, UC San Diego and Sonoma State are No. 5 and No. 6. Central Washington and Western Washington are the No. 7 and No. 8 rated teams.

Hollingsworth looks for Jacks doubles record & extend streak

     Freshman Tiffany Hollingsworth has built an impressive first HSU season. The second baseman has tied Apple Gomez's single season record of 21 set in 1995.

     Hollingsworth is on her second long hitting streak of the year going into this weekend. From March 7's second game against San Francisco State through April 4 versus Simon Fraser, she totaled a 15-game hit streak. Tiffany can equal the amount on Friday as she has hit safely in the past 14 contests starting on April 11's first game at Sonoma State.

Jacks series at CCAA Tournament

     HSU enters the upcoming CCAA Tournament with two titles and six victories out of 10 games in four appearances.

     The Jacks' 6-4 record means it has been all or nothing in the four tournament appearances. HSU went 3-0 in 2007 and 2013 for the titles, while failing to win a game with 0-2 marks in 2008 and 2009.

     HSU Games:

2007 in Arcata    May 3 - HSU 11, San Francisco State 3

        May 4 - HSU 5, Cal State Stanislaus 2

        May 5 - HSU 6, Cal State Stanislaus 5

2008 in Arcata    May 1 - Cal State Monterey Bay 5, HSU 0

        May 2 - CSU San Bernardino 7, HSU 6

2009 in Stockton    April 30 - Sonoma State 6, HSU 2

        May 1 - UC San Diego 8, HSU 0 (5 inn.)

2013 in Stockton    May 3 - HSU 4, Cal State Dominguez Hills 1

        May 4 - HSU 4, Sonoma State 2

        May 5 - HSU 5, UC San Diego 2

Scouting RV UC San Diego (33-14):

     • HSU leads series 32-15

     • HSU won last 10 games in series including 4-0 in Arcata

     • Received 12 votes for No. 28 in NFCA DII poll 

     • Won 2012 CCAA Tournament

     • Played in each of the last three CCAA Championship games and four overall of seven

     • 1-1 vs. HSU in CCAA Tournament

     • 9-7 overall record in CCAA Tournament 

     • Took 3 of 4 games vs. CSU Dominguez Hills last weekend

     • 2nd in CCAA for batting average (.330) & stolen bases (86)
 

Scouting No. 3 Cal State Monterey Bay (44-7):

     • HSU leads series 22-17

     • Teams split 4-game series

     • Won 2009 CCAA Tournament

     • 1-0 vs. HSU in CCAA Tournament

     • Even 6-6 in CCAA Tournament

     • Won last 5 games with a 3-game sweep vs. CSU San Bernardino last weekend and 7 of last 8

     • Lead CCAA in batting average (.333), ERA (1.75) and strikeouts/game (5.12)

Scouting Sonoma State (35-19):

     • HSU leads series 109-28

     • HSU has won 4 of 5 meetings this season

     • Won the 2010 and 2011 CCAA Tournaments

     • 1-1 vs. HSU in CCAA Tournament

     • Hold a 9-5 overall record at CCAA Tournament in 4 appearances

     • 4-4 over last 8 games with a 4-game split at San Francisco State last weekend...5-8 in last 13 contests

     • Lead CCAA in triples (22) and stolen bases (125) and pitching strikeouts (262)

 

-GoJacks-