TURLOCK, Calif. – It must have felt like déjà vu for the Lumberjacks.
Humboldt State defeated Western Washington for the second time in three days as it captured its record sixth Tournament of Champions title and defended last season's championship Sunday.
The Jacks (28-10) opened the final day of tournament play in the Gold Bracket. HSU defeated Montana State-Billings, 6-3, in the early game and topped Western Washington, 6-1, in the title game.
With the game tied 1-1 after two innings, the Green and Gold relied on a three-run third to capture the championship and defend their tournament title.
Julie Pena slapped a two-run double down the left field line to follow up
Hannah Williams' bases-loaded walk to put HSU on top 4-1.
Breonna Bejaran continued her hot streak against Tournament of Champions pitching with an RBI single to plate Williams and increase HSU's edge to four runs, 5-1.
Dani Randall laid down a sac bunt that brought home the game's final run as
Darian Harris raced home after a leadoff double in the seventh frame.
Madison Williams earned her 15
th win of the season against the Vikings. She tossed six innings of one-run ball and fanned four.
Katie Obbema capped the championship game with an inning of scoreless relief.
A five-run fourth frame propelled the Jacks past the Yellowjackets in game one.
HSU trailed 3-0 heading into the fourth and had tallied just three hits over the first three innings. Consecutive singles by
Tiffany Hollingsworth and Randall put runners on first and second, before Bejaran was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Pinch hitter
Sydney Roberts made her only hit of the game count. She crushed a grand slam on a full count pitch and gave HSU a 5-3 lead.
Randall launched a solo homer to lead off the next inning, and Obbema closed out the game in relief of starter
Madison Williams.
Madison Williams was lifted to begin the fourth after surrendering three runs, walking three and allowing four hits. Obbema fanned seven in the final three innings to notch her 11
th victory in the decision.
The Green and Gold host Cal State Dominguez Hills in a four-game homestand beginning Thursday, April 2. First pitch of the conference doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.
