ARCATA, Calif- Behind another stellar performance from staff ace Lindsay Emmel, the Sonoma State softball team defeated No. 4 Cal State Stanislaus Saturday afternoon at Humboldt State Softball Stadium, 5-2, to advance to the NCAA West Regional Championship Game for the first time in program history. Sonoma will have to be beaten twice in tomorrow's Championship round due to the double elimination format.

CCAA Pitcher of the Year Lindsay Emmel was on top of her game again today, logging nine innings, surrendering only two hits, and striking out nine Warrior batters. Emmel has now pitched sixteen innings, thrown two complete games, and has allowed only four hits in West Region play.

The Seawolves were able to take the early lead in the top of the first, as Jessica Gaumnitz allowed two singles and issued two walks. Ashley Sardina and Nicole Cordova recorded singles, and Simone Brandalise walked to load the bases. Jessica Abelia was then walked by Gaumnitz, allowing Sardina to cross home plate from third giving Sonoma a 1-0 advantage. Gaumnitz would settle down after a shaky first inning, retiring 12 of the next 14 batters.

The Warriors immediately answered in their home half of the second, as Alyssa Guzman smoked her third homerun of the year over the left field fence, notting the game at 1-1. Five batters later, Cal State Stanislaus took the lead on their second solo shot of the game, this one supplied by Meghan Franksen.

Gaumnitz appeared to be cruising until the top of the sixth, when Kayla Ledford launched the third homerun of the contest over the left field fence, tying the ballgame at 2-2. Stanislaus inserted Jennifer Arnold immediately after the Ledford homrun.

Emmel and Arnold would pitch solid for the next three innings, until Sonoma State was able to break through in the top of the ninth.

With two outs and pinch runner Nikki Jaime on first base, Brittany Martinez hit a soft groudball up the middle that was fielded by center fielder Alyssa Guzman who then air-mailed the ball over catcher Brittany Balanesi's head, allowing Jaime to score. Sonoma added two more runs on singles by Ashley and Emmel to clinch the 5-2 victory.

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