ARCATA, Calif. - After capturing its second California Collegiate Athletic Association Softball Tournament title last weekend, Humboldt State begins its NCAA Division II West Region title defense in St. George, Utah.

No. 3-seeded HSU will play No. 6 seed UC San Diego before host No. 2 seed Dixie State takes on No. 7-seeded Central Washington in the double elimination West 2 Regional running from Friday-Sunday, May 9-11.

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HSU seeks seventh overall and second West Region title in a row

For the 20th time in program history, HSU received a berth into the NCAA Division II West Region playoffs. 

Over their first 19 West Regional appearances, the Lumberjacks captured six titles – 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2008 and 2013.

HSU seeks its seventh title and second in a row after sweeping through both the Regional and Super Regional last spring.
 

Jacks hold high winning percentage in West Regional action

In their first 19 trips to the West Regional postseason, the Jacks have played 76 games and hold a 45-31 (.592) overall record.

HSU went 5-0 last postseason against West Regional teams and have won at least one game in 15 of its first 19 West Regional appearances.

For the six West Regional title years, HSU has a 24-3 (.889) combined record with three perfect records 

Records when winning West Regional – 1994 (4-1), 1995 (3-1), 

1999 (3-0), 2001 (3-0), 2008 (6-1), 2013 (5-0)
 

HSU opens weekend and Regional again versus UC San Diego

In what is becoming a rpattern, No. 3-seeded HSU will open this weekend against a familiar foe and CCAA member No. 6-seeded UC San Diego in a noon PST first pitch Friday at Dixie State.

Last Friday, the two California traditional powers opened their CCAA Tournament play against each other. HSU prevailed by a 2-1 margin. The Jacks have won all five meetings over the last three weeks and have an 11-game winning streak against the Tritons.

In the 2012 CCAA Tournament Championship game, UC San Diego and HSU met where the Jacks prevailed 6-2.  Five days later in Arcata, HSU added a 7-1 victory to open the West Regional play.  HSU's Tonya Walker belted a two-run homer and Andrea Chavez added a RBI single as part of a five-run first-inning. Dani Randall and Hannah Williams crushed solo fourth-inning homers to complete the 7-1 win.

Host No. 2-seeded Dixie State will open its weekend action against No. 7 seed Central Washington starting at approximately 2:30 PST.
 

HSU moves back to opening season No. 4 ranking in NFCA Top 25

After 12 weekly rankings, HSU moved back to its ranking its season-opening ranking at No. 4 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Top 25 poll.

West Texas A&M (51-5) had its 24-game winning streak stopped in the Lone Star Conference championship game, but held the No. 1 rank. North Georgia (43-9) moved up a pair of spots to No. 2.

CCAA regular season champion Cal State Monterey Bay (45-9) remained at No. 3 and one spot ahead of HSU. Tampa (31-6) also jumped a pair of positions up to No. 5 from No. 7.

The West 2 Regional host, Dixie State (44-8) dropped one spot to No. 15, while UC San Diego and Central Washington were in the Others Receiving Votes category with 10 and two, respectively.

Five Jacks earned CCAA All-Tournament acclaim

In last weekend's title run, HSU had five players named to the CCAA All-Tournament team. Hannah Williams was named the Most Outstanding Player as she won the Saturday game on a two-run home run and added two more round-trippers in the title contest.

Tiffany Hollingsworth hit .429, a team-best, while Julie Pena belted two home runs and finished with a .364 average. Dani Randall lined the game-winning single vs. UC San Diego and a home run in the championship game.

In eight innings last Sunday, freshman Madison Williams allowed only one earned run and struck out eight for a 0.88 ERA as the final honoree.
 

Jacks' West 2 Regional Opponents:
 

Scouting No. 6 seed UC San Diego (33-16/22-10 CCAA):

• HSU leads series 33-15

• HSU won last 11 games in series including 5-0 this season

• Open West Regional vs. HSU for 2nd-year in a row & 2nd weekend in a row the two programs open play

• Received 10 votes for No. 31 in NFCA DII poll 

• Won 2012 CCAA Tournament & 2011 NCAA DII National title

• 0-2 vs. HSU in West Regional history

• HSU won 2-0 in 2007 & 7-1 in 2013 West Regional Play

• 0-2 in last weekend's CCAA Tournament 

• 3-3 in last 6 games & 3-8 in last 11 contests
 

Scouting Dixie State (44-8/27-5 PacWest):

• Dixie State leads series 3-0

• Dixie State is one of only 5 NCAA II schools HSU is winless against of the school's it has played – along with Minot State, Barry Univ., Lewis Univ. and Metro St. (all 0-1 against) – and the only school HSU has not defeated which it has faced more than one time

• Earned PacWest automatic berth with regular season title

• Finished 27-5 in PacWest regular season

• Won 21-straight and 27 of last 28 games 

• Red Storm defeated HSU 12-1 (4/1/11) at Tournament of Champions, 17-9 (2/12/11) at Desert Stinger Tournament and 9-2 (2010) at Tournament of Champions
 

Scouting No. 7 seed Central Washington (30-18/16-8 GNAC):

• HSU leads series 52-5

• Runner-up in both GNAC regular season and tournament 

• Received two vote and No. 36 rank in last NFCA Top 25 poll

• HSU won only season meeting, 5-1, on April 5 at the second day of the Tournament of Champions

• 3-2 at GNAC Tournament last weekend

• 3-2 vs. HSU in the last five meetings and 0-2 vs. HSU in last two

 

-GoJacks-