ARCATA — Geneva Perrine's eighth-inning grand slam - the first home run of her collegiate career - lifted Humboldt State to a 9-2 win over defending champion CSU Stanislaus at the NCAA Division II West Region Softball Championships on Friday.

The freshman shortstop's heroics kept the host Lumberjacks (49-18) alive, sending them to Friday's 4:30 p.m. matchup against the winner of the CSU San Bernardino vs. Seattle University game. Humboldt State's sixth win in six tries against CSU Stanislaus this spring ended the Warriors' season with a 31-23 record.

After fouling off three offerings, Perrine drove Jessica Gaumnitz' 2-2 pitch over the left center fence. Following a walk, Nikki Ketteringham hit a two-run homer down the right field line, and Natalie Galletly scampered home on a throwing error to finish off the scoring.

The late outburst made a winner out of Lizzy Prescott, who scattered five hits in eight innings, striking out five and walking two to improve her record to 40-11. Gaumnitz took the loss, lasting 7.2 innings, striking out six, walking two and giving up all the runs, five of them earned.

"I knew (Perrine) was capable," HSU head coach Frank Cheek said. "I'm very happy for her. She's overcome some adversity to achieve that."

Cal State Stanislaus got off to a solid start against Prescott, putting up both of its runs in the first inning. Jennifer Arnold's double scored the first run, and Ayssa Guzman singled to send in the other, both hits coming with two outs.

Humboldt State started the fourth inning with a walk and single, but the Gaumnitz retired the next two hitters and was poised to get out of the jam. Lindsay Warren's sharply hit ground ball was fielded cleanly by Warriors' third baseman Sarah Shamblin, but her throw was wild, allowing Ashley Oltjenbruns and Franny West to score the tying runs.

Humboldt State 9, Cal State Stanislaus 2 (May 09, 2008 at Arcata, Calif.)
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Humboldt State...... 000 200 07 -  9 12  0      (49-18)
Cal State Stanislaus 200 000 00 -  2  5  5      (31-23)
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Pitchers: Humboldt State - PRESCOTT,Lizzy. Cal State Stanislaus - GAUMNITZ, Jessica;
ARNOLD, Jennifer(8).
Win-PRESCOTT,Lizzy(40-11)  Loss-GAUMNITZ, Jessica(18-8)  T-2:14  A-197
HR HSU - KETTERINGHAM,Nikki; PERRINE,Geneva.