HUMBOLDT — No. 2 (Class 3A) Humboldt secured its fifth consecutive North Central Conference softball crown with a 4-2 win over rival Algona on Thursday night.

The Wildcats (13-1 overall, 7-0 in the NCC) plated four runs in the sixth inning to hand the No. 6 Bulldogs (10-1) their first loss of the season.

Jori Hajek homered to snap a scoreless tie and get the ball rolling. That was all the help Ellie Jacobson would need, as the senior fired a complete game and struck out 10.

Hajek had two hits.

Senior Kamryn Etherington struck out five for the Bulldogs. Alyssa Hentges doubled for Algona.

This is the only regular-season meeting between the two programs.