CHICO, Calif. – Senior pitcher Madison Williams struck out a season-high 15 batters as Humboldt State softball defeated Cal Baptist, 1-0, Thursday in game one of the NCAA West Regional Tournament.
 
The Brentwood, Calif., native set the tempo early fanning eight of the first nine Lancers and the first six batters she faced.
 
HSU manufactured the game's only run in the bottom of the first. Winona Vigil reached on a ball booted off the foot of Cal Baptist's second baseman. Vigil moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and came home after three straight Jacks were hit by pitch.
 
Williams kept the Lancers hitless through the first three frames, but a leadoff double from Caitlyn Lloyd in the top of the fourth provided Cal Baptist's best chance to even the score. The next batter, Soraya Shahbazian, walked and a sac bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out. But Williams recorded her ninth strikeout and got Brittany Galvez to pop up in order to escape the inning.
 
Cal Baptist managed just two hits in the ball game, one of which was a pop fly that went in and out of Sydney Roberts' glove in shallow left centerfield.
 
The 15-strikeout performance gave Williams her 21^st victory of the season.
 
HSU will face Cal State San Bernardino Friday at 11 a.m. in the winner's bracket game. The Coyotes topped tournament host Chico State, 5-2, Thursday afternoon.