TURLOCK, Calif--Remember that commercial long ago about chicks digging the long ball?

The Humboldt State softball team does. The No. 2 nationally ranked Lumberjacks went long ball twice on UH Hilo, breaking up a tight game on their way to a 6-0 win on Saturday morning at the Tournament of Champions.

The perennial power program improved to 23-5 on the season with the win, while UHH, having played three straight nationally ranked teams at the TOC, fell to 14-19. They will play this afternoon against host Stanislaus State.

UHH's Leah Gonzales was dealing through the first three innings for her Vulcans. She hadn't allowed a hit, but plunked the lead-off batter in the fourth, and then Tiffany Hollingsworth gave the Lumberjacks  their first hit--a two-run homer that put put HSU up 2-0. After a single and a walk, Lona Dengler took her turn in the home run game, blasting a three-run shot to make the count 5-0.

That would be all for Gonzales in her impressive effort. Cyanne Fernandez came out of the pen to put out the fire and gave up just one run in the sixth inning to account for the final 6-0 score.

Kalyn Paque was impressive in the pitching circle for HSU. She gave up just five hits and fanned six to improve to 12-1 on the year. The Vulcans placed a runner on second in the first inning on Mari Kawano's double, and threatened to score in the seventh when Danielle Pulido singled and moved to third on pinch hitter Jordan Millwood's double. But Paque struck out the final Vulcan batter to clinch the game.

Pulido had two hits to lead the UHH offense. Dengler was 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Lumberjacks.