SEASIDE, Calif. –Aubrie Tolliver rocketed a sixth-inning grand slam to left centerfield to secure Sonoma State's 5-4 victory over Humboldt State Friday at the Otter Sports Complex.
The loss puts the Lumberjacks (41-18) in Saturday's 1:30 p.m. elimination game versus host and No. 1 seed Cal State Monterey Bay. HSU was eliminated by Monterey Bay in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament championship round. The Otters lost to Montana State-Billings Friday, 7-6.
Tolliver's pinch-hit home run put the Seawolves (40-19) on top after trailing 4-1 to start the inning. Amanda Rossetta and Olivia Lucchese notched hits to put runners at first and second, and pinch hitter Taylor Batey loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. The Seawolves pulled Tolliver out of the lineup and pinch hit Carlie Daniel, but a foul ball skipped off her bat and into her facemask. Tolliver re-entered with a 2-2 count and hit the long ball two pitches later.
Catcher
Darian Harris plated all four of HSU's runs on a grand slam of her own in the second inning.
Julie Pena and Cindy Chavez reached base on singles, and
Hanna Holland drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases for the Harris round-trip shot.
Sonoma scored the game's first run on a Lucchese squeeze play that scored Ancia Purdy from third.
Gabby Dupree picked up the win for the Seawolves. She relieved starter Mayleen Mazon in the second frame and tossed 5.1 innings of one-hit ball. Dupree finished with five strikeouts.
Despite quickly dispatched the Seawolves through the first five innings,
Katie Obbema was tagged with the loss. The Morgan Hill, Calif., product and First Team All-CCAA First Teamer surrendered eight hits, a walk and five earned runs.
Harris led the Jacks with two hits.