ROHNERT PARK, CALIF.- Sonoma State Softball, arguably the hottest team in the conference, has continued their hot streak into the CCAA Conference Championship Tournament. After an outstanding late rally on Wednesday to defeat Cal State San Bernardino, the Seawolves once again combined strong pitching and clutch hitting to advance past the tournament's top seed.

Head coach Jennifer Bridges relied upon her duo of All-Conference pitchers to dominate from inside the circle. Freshman Ava Paquin earned the starting nod and responded with 3.2 innings of work, five strikeouts and surrendered a single hit. Paquin has really found her stride late in the year and carried that momentum into her first ever collegiate, postseason appearance! 

After Paquin's hot start, the Seawolves turned the circle over to program ace Charlie Johnson. After pitching a complete game just a day earlier, Johnson took control for the final three innings of play. She responded by allowing just two hits across the 13 batters that she faced. In two postseason appearances Johnson has allowed just eight hits and completely shut down opposing offenses with just a single earned run.

Offensively, the Seawolves struck first with two quick runs in the first inning of play. Amari Houston got on base with a single to the left side of the infield and would score on the next at-bat thanks to a Lauren Mirtoni double that was launched deep left center. Not long after, All-CCAA second baseman Kaiya Dickens poked a single out to left field that would get Mirtoni across the plate. 

Sonoma would tack on another run in the fifth inning thanks to timely baserunning that capitalized on multiple errors by the Pioneers with Jasmine Moreno being able to score.

Unfortunately, East Bay rallied late in the fifth inning and was able to tie the game at three runs apiece. Yet, as has been the case with this Sonoma State team, they remained resilient and responded to adversity befitting of their championship pedigree. 

Once the sixth inning got underway the pair of Sophia Newcomb and Lauren Mirtoni would both single and combined with a well placed sacrifice bunt by Amari Houston, the Seawolves got a pair of runners into scoring position. Then, Jasmine Moreno reminded the entire crowd why she is a two time All-CCAA caliber player. Facing a 1-1 count, Moreno proceeded to make perfect contact and launch a three run homerun over the left field fence. It was clear from the pop of the bat that the Seawolves veteran catcher came up with one of the most clutch at-bats of her career while facing down the CCAA Pitcher of the Year for good measure. 

Sonoma has now put together a 21-5 record over their past 26 games. With a core of eight All-Conference players, a top tier coaching staff and games on their home field the Seawolves are making a run at the right time of the year!