Reports From LBSU

The Long Beach State softball team (23-26, 7-11 BWC) closes out the regular season this weekend when it plays host to UC Riverside in a three-game Big West series, May 14-15.

The 49ers and Highlanders will square off in a doubleheader on Friday before wrapping up the series with a single game on Saturday. First pitch on both days is set for 1 p.m. at the 49er Softball Complex.

SENIOR DAY
The Beach will recognize its six seniors prior to the game on Saturday, May 15. Ashley Levine, Jodi Nakawatase, Bridgette Pagano,Kristen Pocock, Brandy Reyes and Ashley Weber will be honored before their final game at the 49er Softball Complex.

SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
UC Riverside started Big West play at the top of the standings with a 6-2 record, but has lost nine of its last 10 to drop to 22-29 overall and 7-11 in conference games. Marissa Alvidrez leads the Highlanders at the plate and on the mound as she is hitting for a .323 average with 40 hits, 23 RBI, 12 runs scored and 19 walks. She has also gone 15-14 in the circle with a team-best 3.68 earned run average and 75 strikeouts.

SERIES RECORDS
Long Beach State leads in its series with UC Riverside, 35-6. The 49ers won two out of three last year as they defeated the Highlanders, 5-3 and 4-1, before dropping the finale by a score of 5-3. LBSU has also claimed nine of the last 10 meetings and has outscored UCR, 61-30, in those games.

49ERS AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS
Senior Ashley Weber ranks 22nd in the nation on the toughest to strike out list, while freshman Nalani St. Germain is 66th in the country in walks per game (0.61).

PUT ME IN COACH … I’M READY TO PLAY
Prior to Big West play, freshman Bree Stephan had earned the starting nod in just 13 of the 49ers’ 31 games. After going 2-for-4 in the series finale against Pacific, Stephan has found herself in the starting lineup ever since. The Simi Valley, Calif., native has made the most of the opportunity as she has posted a team-leading .426 batting average in 16 conference games played.

Stephan led The Beach to a series victory at Cal State Fullerton last weekend as she had two multiple-hit games, finishing 5-for-11 with her first career home run.

TURNING IT UP
After struggling with illegal pitches for a majority of the season, junior Brooke Turner has come on strong over the last couple weekends. Turner entered the series at UC Santa Barbara with a 9-9 record, 14 illegal pitches and a 3.55 ERA. Since then she has led the LBSU pitching staff, making four appearances in six games and registering a team-low 1.64 ERA. Turner has also accumulated 111 strikeouts on the season. She fanned a season-high 13 batters against Idaho State and reached double figures again with 11 at UCSB.

ONE-HIT WONDER
Sophomore Taylor Petty has tossed a pair of one-hit complete game shutouts this season. The San Pedro, Calif., native stifled UC Davis on April 17 as she fired a one-hitter, while striking out a season-high nine batters in LBSU’s 2-0 victory.

Petty also tossed a one-hit shutout against Buffalo at the Long Beach Invitational (March 13). She finished that weekend with a 2-0 record, while registering a 1.40 earned run average and 21 strikeouts. On the season, Petty leads the 49ers with a 2.57 ERA and is tops in the conference with 131 K’s.