Sunday, May 12, 2013

ARCATA, Calif. - One of the most successful seasons in GNAC softball history came to a close Sunday as Saint Martin's lost a 5-3 decision to Humboldt State in a NCAA Division II West Regional semifinal contest.

The Lumberjacks will now advance to a best-of-three regional final next weekend at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The Saints finished their season with a 41-16 record.  Their win total is the fifth highest in GNAC history topped only by the 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 Humboldt State teams.  The Lumberjacks left the GNAC following the 2006 campaign.

Catcher Courtney Hiatt had three hits and drove in two runs with a first-inning double to lead  Humboldt to the victory.  The Lumberjacks scored three runs in the opening inning and never trailed.

The Saints did pull to within 4-3 as Dani Wall homered in the second inning and Megan Miller and Sam Munger had RBIs in the third with a sacrifice fly and single, respectively.

Humboldt, however, added an insurance run in the fourth on a single by Dani Randall and Lizzie Perez then came on to allow just one hit and no runs over the final 3 2/3 innings to record her 20th win against five losses.

Munger's RBI hit enabled her to finish the 2013 season with a 26-game hitting streak. 

Going into the 2013 season, only 17 players in NCAA Division II history had longer streaks including Danielle Monson of Central Washington who hit in 40 consecutive games in 2010 which is the second longest streak in Division II history.

Munger had five hits in 15 at bats as the Saints split four regional games.  Lacey McGladrey led SMU with seven hits in 14 at bats.  Taviah Jenkins had five hits in 10 at bats, including three home runs.  Wall went six for 13 in the regional.  She had two singles, two doubles and two home runs.

Munger earned decisions in all four contests and finished the season with a 24-9 record.