LA JOLLA, Calif. – No. 13-ranked Humboldt State softball swept its Friday doubleheader versus UC San Diego with a 4-1 win in the opener and 4-3 victory in the nightcap. The wins extended HSU's winning streak to 15 games.
 
The Lumberjacks improved to 20-6 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play and 34-10 overall. HSU remains on top of the CCAA standings.
 
"We are finding ways to win ball games," said HSU Head Coach Shelli Sarchett. "What is great about the way we are playing is we aren't relying on any one aspect of our game. We are using our defense, offense and our pitching."
 
Outstanding pitching from Madison Williams and a three-run third inning pushed the Jacks past the Tritons in the opener. Williams fanned six and allowed an earned run in seven innings en route to her team-leading 17^th victory.
 
Leading 1-0 to start the third, the Green and Gold plated three more runs on a Tiffany Hollingsworth RBI single and a two-run, two-out miscue by the Tritons' third baseman.
 
Three Jacks compiled multi-hit outings in game one, including Hollingsworth, Alison McKibbon and Dani Randall.
 
McKibbon recorded just one hit in game two, but it proved to be the most valuable of HSU's 12 base knocks. The Mission Viejo, Calif., product crushed a three-run homer in the second inning to give the Green and Gold a 3-0 advantage. McKibbon's long ball was her third of the season.
 
"McKibbon came up big for us in the second game," said Sarchett. "She is swinging a good bat right now and making it happen at the bottom of the lineup."
 
HSU added an insurance run in the fourth frame. Hollingsworth drove in her conference-leading 54^th RBI and brought home Cindy Chavez with two outs. Chavez reached base on a UC San Diego error.
 
The Tritons scored two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to trim the Jacks' advantage to a run. Pinch hitter Bianca Devoto slapped a timely two-run single in the fifth frame.
 
Katie Obbema yielded three runs and avoided big innings in game two. She surrendered six hits, walked two and struck out four. 
 
"UC San Diego is a good team and likes to put pressure on the defense," said Sarchett. "Katie and Maddie threw well today and worked themselves out of tough situations when needed."
 
The Jacks return to actions Saturday against the Tritons. First pitch for game one of the twinbill is set for 11 a.m.