BOX SCORE #5 Humboldt State 4, Sonoma State 2 -- Box Score

STOCKTON, Calif. -- Ali Palermo smashed her second home run in as many days to cut a four-run deficit in half, but the Sonoma State softball team couldn't take advantage of its 10 other base hits in the contest, falling to home run-hitting Humboldt State, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon at the CCAA Championship Tournament in Stockton. 

The Seawolves (36-18), who gave up three home runs to the nation's most powerful team, will play in a loser-out game at 6:00 p.m. against the winner of the loser-out game between UC San Diego and Cal State Dominguez Hills, currently in progress.  The top-seeded and fifth-ranked Lumberjacks (46-12), who have now hit 103 home runs on the year -- tops among all teams across all divisions in the NCAA -- advance to Championship Sunday and await for the winner of Saturday's 6:00 p.m. game.

Live stats for the UCSD/CSUDH game is available by clicking here.

Humboldt's Tonya Walker and Courtney Hiatt delivered solo home runs in the bottom of the first, then the reigning CCAA Most Valuable Player, Chrissy Stalf, blasted a two-run shot in the second inning to give the 'Jacks a 4-0 lead.

Sonoma put a rally together in the top of the sixth when Vanessa Currie led off with a single to right center, followed by Palermo's 14th blast of the year to cut the HSU lead to 4-2.  The Seawolves eventually loaded the bases after singles by Holli Brown and Megan Konieczka, in addition to Hayley Condon getting plunked with a pitch.  However, the CCAA's Freshman of the Year, Katie Obbema, induced an inning-ending pop out to keep the Seawolves at bay.

In SSU's last at bat in the top of the seventh, Danielle D'Eccliss led off the frame with a bloop single to left field, but on her attempt to stretch the single to a double, she was thrown out at second, letting the air out of a potential rally that came up empty.

Humboldt State's Obbema improved to 25-3, despite allowing 11 base hits to Seawolf batters.  Purdy, Palermo and Aubrie Tolliver all had two hits each to lead the SSU offense.  Samantha Lipperd, meanwhile, fell to 22-10 this season; she gave up nine hits, including the three home runs in the first two innings.

Sonoma State will play at 6:00 p.m. against the winner of the current game against UC San Diego and Cal State Dominguez Hills.  To take home their third banner in four years, the Seawolves will have to win three straight games, two of which would have to take place on Sunday against Humboldt State, should SSU advance Saturday night.

The Seawolf Sports Network will carry the 6:00 p.m. game live, go to sonomaseawolves.com/livesoftball for the live video feed, just minutes before first pitch.

For current information about the CCAA Championship Tournament, visit the tournament web page at goccaa.org.