Reports From LBSU
The Long Beach State softball team (16-13) extended its winning streak to five games with a doubleheader sweep against Illinois-Chicago Tuesday afternoon at the 49er Softball Complex. The Beach defeated the Flames, 5-3, and 3-2 (9 innings).
Long Beach State 5, Illinois-Chicago 3
In the opener, junior Christina Schallig’s two-run double sparked a third-inning rally that lifted the 49ers to a 5-3 victory.
Junior Brooke Turner picked up the win, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings of relief. Turner allowed just one hit and one walk. Senior Bridgette Pagano had earned the start, scattering six hits while striking out two.
In addition to Schallig’s big hit, senior Ashley Weber went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Freshman Nalani St. Germainalso finished with a single and two runs scored.
Long Beach State got on the board in the first inning when St. Germain ripped the first pitch down the left field line. She then stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Weber. After LBSU loaded the bases, St. Germain eventually crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
The Flames tied the game in the top of the second when Carly DeMarco reached on a dropped third strike. DeMarco stole second and on her attempt to steal third, catcher Brandy Reyes’ throw was off target allowing her to score. UIC then pushed two across in the third to take the lead.
The 49ers responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs on two hits. St. Germain drew a leadoff walk and Weber followed with an infield single. Reyes then walked to load the bases before Schallig drove in a pair with a double to left field. Reyes eventually came around to score on an illegal pitch.
The Beach tacked on an insurance run in the fourth as Weber singled home junior Casey Burba.
Long Beach State 3, Illinois-Chicago 2 (9 innings)
Senior Brandy Reyes drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as Long Beach State came from behind to defeat Illinois-Chicago, 3-2, in the second game of the doubleheader.
Six 49ers registered a hit, including Ashley Weber who also finished with a pair of RBI. Senior Ashley Levine went 1-for-1 with three walks.
Brooke Turner once again picked up the victory in relief, tossing 3.2 hitless innings. Sophomore Taylor Petty pitched well to start the game, giving up just two runs on four hits.
UIC (6-20) got on the board first with Stephanie Chavez’s RBI double in the third inning. The Flames then took a 2-0 lead in the fourth thanks to solo home run from Ashley Hewett.
The Beach evened the score in the bottom half of the inning when Weber knocked a two-out single to center field, plating both Bridgette Pagano and Megan Denio.
The two teams then clamped down on the defensive end, forcing extra frames. After a scoreless eighth, the 49ers were able to push the game-winner across in the bottom of the ninth. St. Germain was placed on second to start the inning and moved up 60 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Weber. St. Germain then slid safely into home on a Reyes groundball.
Long Beach State returns to action this Friday (March 26) when it heads to UCLA for a single game against the fifth-ranked Bruins at 2 p.m. (PDT).