Humboldt State University Athletics

Bottom Cap

Women's Sports

Bottom Cap

Athletic Dept

Bottom Cap

Related Links

Bottom Cap

Donor Logo Donor Logo NCAA CCAA Logo CCAA Logo GNAC Logo GNAC Logo GNAC Logo Photo Gallery

Prescott pitches one for the record books
Bookmark and Share
HOUSTON, Texas — HOUSTON, Texas — More unbelievable then a perfect game, far better than a no-hitter, and bordering on unworldly, Lizzy Prescott's performance on Friday at the NCAA Division II Softball Championships was truly one for the record book.

Humboldt State's All-American pitcher went the distance-plus on Friday, striking out an NCAA Championships record 21 hitters, walking none and allowing only one hit in the Lumberjacks 1-0 win over Lock Haven University. The victory sends the Jacks into Saturday's championship game, a winner-take all affair against the winner of the morning's Emporia State vs. St. Edward's game.

Lock Haven's Kristen Erb was nearly up to the task, also going the extended distance of four hours and two minutes in pitching a seven-hitter and striking out 12 while walking only one. Her defense finally let her down in the 17th inning when HSU's Caitlin Klug and Marissa Slattery both reached base on errors before Natalie Galletly singled up the middle to drive in Klug with the winning run.

In all, Erb and Prescott threw 422 total pitches, 202 by the Eagles' hurler and 220 by the Jacks' star. Erb, who led her team to a national title two years ago and a runnerup spot last season, saw her season end with a 43-8 record, two of the defeats coming against Prescott and the Jacks this week.

"You feel bad to send them home but they're a great team," Prescott said. "They had great defense and I respect that pitcher so much."

Prescott's defense played a major role in her success as well, none more than Chrissy Motzny, who saved the game in the ninth inning. Motzny ranged as far as the field would allow, backing to the 220-foot center field fence, leaping and catching Sarah Norris' would-be home run before falling through the breakaway fence.

"Right off the bat I knew it would be right at the fence and not over, so I started running as fast as I could," Motzny said. "I checked the fence because the ball was hit high and then turned to find the ball and just went for it. I had to or else it would have been the game."

Earlier in the game, Nikki Ketteringham also made an impressive play, racing into the left-center game tp grab Erb's line drive that also had home run potential. Another key play came when the Eagles managed a rare baserunner in the 13th inning, only to have pinch runner Nancy O'Connor thrown out trying to steal second, catcher Marissa Slattery to shortstop Geneva Perrine.

"I'm kind of speechless right now," HSU head coach Frank Cheek said. "We threw a runner out stealing. Lizzy Prescott threw a really good game, and the catches that saved the home runs by Ketteringham and Motzny were outstanding."

Galletly, who had struggled against Erb, found her confidence in time for the 17th-inning heroics. After Klug reached on the shortstop's error and Slattery was safe on a bobbled ball at first base, Galletly drove a pitch up the middle that easly scored Klug from second.

"I had told Galletly to bunt, and she said, 'coach I can hit her', so I let her swing away and she got the base hit," Cheek said.

"I know personally for me it felt really good because I've been struggling against Erb," Galletly said. "She's a great pitcher. She was working me in and out and I never knew where the pitches would go. I was just waiting and hoping for a change-up and that's what I got and I just drove the ball."

Humboldt State 1, Lock Haven 0 (May 16, 2008 at Houston, Texas)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Humboldt State...... 000 000 000 000 000 01 -  1  7  2      (56-18)
Lock Haven.......... 000 000 000 000 000 00 -  0  1  3      (49-8)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Humboldt State - PRESCOTT,Lizzy. Lock Haven - Kristin Erb.
Win-PRESCOTT,Lizzy(47-11)  Loss-Kristin Erb(43-8)  T-4:02  A-589
Scoreboard
Frank Cheek Hall of Fame Video More Stories
ARCATA – Lumberjack first baseman Chrissy Stalf has been named a 2010 first-team Daktronics All-West Region honoree by a vote of the region's sports information directors it was announced Wednesday.

Close | Full Story
ARCATA – Humboldt State softball’s Nikki Ketteringham, Gracie Perez and Chrissy Stalf were named California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Conference performers it was announced today.  All three earned second-team honors.

Close | Full Story
ROHNERT PARK – Nikki Ketteringham went 6-for-8 and Lindsay Warren added three hits as the Humboldt State softball team swept its regular season finale against the No. 14 Sonoma State Seawolves, 3-1 and 5-0, on Saturday.

Close | Full Story
Rohnert Park – One run was the difference in both games of a doubleheader between the Humboldt State softball team and the No. 14 ranked Sonoma State Seawolves on Friday.  HSU won the nightcap 2-1, but fell in the opener 3-2 seriously damaging their hopes for postseason. 

Close | Full Story
WALNUT CREEK - Humboldt State pitcher Gracie Perez and outfielder Nikki Ketteringham have been named the Worth/California Collegiate Athletic Associaion (CCAA) Softball Pitcher and Player of the Week respectively for the week of April 12-18, it was announced on Wednesday.

Close | Full Story
ARCATA — After taking seven of eight games last week, the Humboldt State softball team (29-22, 18-14 CCAA) have jumped from eighth to a tie for fourth place in the conference with one four-game series remaining in the regular season.

Close | Full Story
ARCATA – Calling it “the best comeback in all my years at Humboldt State”, head coach Frank Cheek saw his HSU Lumberjacks score four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to steal a 10-9 win from the San Francisco State Gators on Monday.  The win earned the Jacks a split of a doubleheader after dropping the opener 7-0.

Close | Full Story
ARCATA – Five players had multi-hit games and Gracie Perez won both ends of a doubleheader as the Humboldt State softball team defeated the San Francisco State Gators 7-1 and 12-4 on Sunday. 

Close | Full Story
Newsletter / Poll
Sign up for Humboldt Athletics Email Updates - Join
Where is the best place on campus to hold tailgate parties?