Report by LBSU

The Long Beach State softball team completed its first series sweep of the season and sent its six seniors off with a win as it blanked UC Riverside, 4-0, in the finale Saturday afternoon at the 49er Softball Complex.

The Beach, which ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak, improved to 26-26 overall and 10-11 in Big West action, while the Highlanders dropped to 22-34, 7-14 BWC.

Junior Brooke Turner tossed her second shutout of the weekend, scattering four hits and issuing just one walk. She also finished the afternoon with six strikeouts.

Senior Brandy Reyes paced the 49er offense, going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Senior Jodi Nakawatase also went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while freshman Bree Stephan had a hit and drove in two. LBSU out hit UCR, 6-4.

The two teams were locked in a scoreless game until The Beach rallied for all four of its runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Caitrin DeBaun started things off with a leadoff single before Alisha Rosen entered the game as a pinch runner. Rosen advanced to second on a wild pitch and eventually came around to score on an opposite field hit by Liz Javier.

Kristen Pocock followed with a walk to load the bases and Nakawatase then drove in Reyes on a fielder’s choice. Ashley Levine was hit by a pitch before Stephan connected for a two-run single to put The Beach up, 4-0.

Turner was once again dominant in the circle, allowing just one runner to reach second base.