ARCATA, Calif. – Humboldt State softball won both games in Friday's home doubleheader to complete its series sweep of Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Lumberjacks won their third-straight game in extra innings with a 3-2 win in eight innings and followed it up with a 4-1 victory in the nightcap.
Friday's sweep improves HSU's record to 32-10 overall and 18-6 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play. The Jacks extended their winning streak to 13 straight games.
"It is nice to sweep the series. This is what we needed," said Head Coach
Shelli Sarchett. "At this point in the year we can't afford anymore splits. This a big game for the standings, and hopefully we can continue the momentum for the rest of the season."
A walk-off home run by
Hannah Williams put the Green and Gold on top in game one. She drove a 1-0 pitch from Dominguez Hills' starter Jamie Duran over the left field wall for the game winner. The Brentwood, Calif., native tallied three of HSU's eight hits in the game.
HSU knocked in two runs in the third inning on a pair of RBI hits from
Darian Harris and
Dani Randall. Harris slapped a two-out run-scoring double to left, and Randall hit an RBI single up the middle two batters later.
Madison Williams went the distance in the eight-inning performance and notched her team-leading 16
th win. She allowed two runs, surrendered seven hits and fanned eight.
"Madison buckled down and came through when we really needed her," said Sarchett. "And Hannah's walk-off home run was special. We just executed well in that game."
The Jacks went right to work in the first inning of the series finale. Randall fired an RBI single up the middle to score Harris who reached base on a one-out walk to give the home to an early 1-0 advantage.
Dominguez Hills evened the score with a run in the top of the third, but HSU plated two on an RBI double from
Tiffany Hollingsworth to re-take the lead, 3-1, in the home half.
Breonna Bejaran added an insurance run in the fourth inning. The Ceres, Calif., product launched a solo homer to left field to put the Jacks up by three, 4-1.
Katie Obbema logged her 14
th win of the season in the nightcap. Obbema struck out four, gave up six hits and allowed a run. She has won her last three decisions.
"Katie pitched a really good game and was able to get big outs when she needed them," said Sarchett.
Outfielder
Hanna Holland returned to the field Friday after missing game two of the series due to a collision at third base. Holland reached base in both games and extended her streak of reaching base safely to 41 games.
HSU visits La Jolla, Calif., next Friday to begin a four-game series with UC San Diego. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.
"Everybody we face the rest of the way is towards the top of the league in the standings," said Sarchett. "If we can take this momentum into UC San Diego that will be really big for us."
