ARCATA, Calif. – Humboldt State softball collected a pair of walk-off victories Monday in non-conference action against the Academy of Art. Hannah Holland punctuated a come-from-behind 11-10 victory with a walk-off grand slam in the opener, and
Sydney Roberts launched a game-ending homer in game two's 9-0 six-inning win.
"We needed this," said HSU Head Coach
Shelli Sarchett. "These two games were definitely team wins."
The Lumberjacks improved to 13-8 with the non-conference sweep.
Holland was the star of the Jacks' game one win. Not only did the freshman notch the game-winning hit, but she also went 3-for-4 at the dish and collected four stolen bases. The speedster from Oakdale, Calif., leads the California Collegiate Athletic Association with 21 stolen bags.
Dani Randall (4-for-6) and
Darian Harris (4-for-7) collected eight of HSU's 20 hits versus the Urban Knights.
The Green and Gold relied heavily on its bullpen in game one and reliever Kelsie Domnitz picked up her first decision of the season.
Madison Williams fanned six in a shutout game-two victory.
HSU hosts Cal State Stanislaus this weekend at the HSU Softball Field. The conference action begins with a doubleheader Friday, March 13, at 1 p.m. and wraps with a Saturday twinbill starting at 11 a.m.
GAME ONE RECAP The outlook seemed grim for the Jacks as they trailed 9-2 heading into the bottom of the third inning of Monday's opener. The Urban Knights hung seven on Green and Gold starter
Katie Obbema in the top half of the inning.
It took a pair of four-run innings late in the game to put HSU back on top.
Roberts began the bottom of the sixth with a pinch-hit homer for the Jacks, which was followed by a
Tiffany Hollingsworth RBI single and a Randall three-run bomb over the left field fence.
The Green and Gold trailed 9-6 entering their half of the seventh inning, but the dugout and fans were energized. After a pair of walks and a Kelly Sonneman single, Holland came to the plate to provide the base-clearing fireworks. She yanked the first pitch she saw into the right-centerfield tree line for just her fourth collegiate long ball.
Holland will be recognized for the game-winning hit, but Domnitz deserves credit for helping the Jacks rebound from a rocky start. She tossed 4.2 innings of relief, allowed two runs, recorded five punch-outs and gave up four hits. The win was her first of the season.
"Domnitz came in and did a great job in relief of Obbema," said Sarchett. "We knew that even though we were down, that we had the lineup that was capable of putting up runs. The girls never gave up, and Holland came up big with a walk-off grand slam. Power isn't supposed to be part of her game, but she has really done well in that department."
Brenna Mitchell took the loss for the Academy of Art. Mitchell gave up 11 earned runs, 11 hits and walked four in 6.1 innings. She entered the game with a 2.00 ERA.
GAME TWO RECAP HSU led from start to finish in the nightcap.
The Jacks scored six runs through four innings, but it was Roberts' two-run blast that awoke fans from hibernation on a chilly Monday afternoon.
Pinch hitter
Carly Perkins reached base with a single and came home two batters later on the walk-off round-tripper. The home run was Roberts' second of the afternoon and of the season.
Madison Williams earned her team-high seventh win of the season in game two.
"Maddie threw well again in the second game and got the shutout," said Sarchett. "We mixed the lineup around a little and had people in different positions, and we were able to produce. I had Roberts starting at second base and I moved Hollingsworth to shortstop. Roberts really came through today with a couple of big hits, especially the big hit to finish off the second game. It's just nice to see people coming off the bench and producing for us."
