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ARCATA, Calif. – This weekend is shaping up to be a busy one for the Humboldt State softball team. HSU opens a four-game homestand versus league rival Sonoma State Friday at the HSU Softball Field, and it hosts Dominican in a doubleheader Sunday.
 
The Lumberjacks are riding an eight-game winning streak, which includes a pair of midweek wins against Holy Names Tuesday in San Leandro, Calif. HSU's recent success adds up to a 19-8 overall mark and 12-4 record in California Collegiate Athletic Association action.
 
Sonoma State is no stranger to the Green and Gold. The Jacks faced the Seawolves eight times last season and compiled a 6-2 record en route to a CCAA Tournament title.
 
"Sonoma State has two strong pitchers, and they have a lot of speed," said HSU Head Coach Shelli Sarchett. "They are a well-rounded team this year. The Seawolves have speed, power and pitching."
 
HSU will look to continue to produce at the plate against one of the conference's best pitchers in Sonoma State's Amanda Llerna. She paces the CCAA with 13 wins and ranks second behind conference leader Cori Reinhardt with a 1.76 ERA. The Jacks had great success against the right-handed rise ball pitcher last season and expect more of the same in their next meeting with the Seawolves ace.
 
"Last year her pitch wasn't effective against us, and we will prepare for her pitches in practice," said Sarchett. "She is the returning CCAA Pitcher of the Year, and she is very good."
 
Sarchett points to the Seawolves ability to strike a balance with both speed and power as their recipe for success. Sonoma State leads the conference with 39 stolen bases and has hit one home run in league play, but has 19 total home runs including non-conference games.
 
Ancia Purdy is Sonoma State's leadoff hitter and speedster. She ranks second in the CCAA with 20 stolen bases, eight behind HSU's Hanna Holland (28). Purdy leads the Seawolves with a .500 batting average and seven triples in 25 games.
 
Despite HSU's Tuesday sweep of Holy Names, Sarchett is not satisfied with her team's production.
 
"We have to play to the highest level regardless of who we are playing," said Sarchett. "We had a good talk about it after the game. The intensity just wasn't there Tuesday. I am happy with two wins, but we know that we could have performed better against Holy Names."
 
One bright spot in the series sweep of the Hawks were the performances of the Jacks starting pitchers. Madison Williams and Katie Obbema combined for 27 strikeouts versus Holy Names.
"Obbema got a confidence booster and is finding her rhythm again," said Sarchett. "Maddie continues to perform well."
 
Williams is tied for second in the CCAA with 10 wins and is third in the conference with 79 strikeouts. She has won her last four decisions and fanned 16 batters in HSU's 6-1 win over Holy Names in the series opener.
 
QUICK HITS
- Sophomore Tiffany Hollingsworth earned CCAA Player of the Week and Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Player of the Week honors. She hit six home runs and finished with 14 RBI last week.
- Dani Randall has hit a home run in three of her last five games. She swatted a two-run homer in game one against Holy Names. The San Jose, Calif., native is third in the conference with five long balls.
- Holland continues to lead both the Jacks and the CCAA in stolen bases. She swiped only one base in the Holy Names series, but went 4-for-8 at the dish. The Oakdale, Calif., native's 28 stolen bases ties her for fifth in the program's single-season record book with former Jacks Kathryn Hutchings (1996) and Andrea Williams (2002). HSU Athletic Hall of Famer Jamie Peterson is the program's single-season record holder with 53.