Long Beach State completed a series sweep over Cal State Northridge with a 6-1 victory Sunday afternoon at the 49er Softball Complex. The Beach improves to 24-14 overall and 5-1 in Big West Conference action, while the Matadors fall to 23-12, 3-3 BWC.
Sophomore Brooke Turner (13-7) went the distance, picking up her second win of the weekend. The Buena Park, Calif., native allowed just one run on three hits while striking out five.
Senior Danielle Linke paced the 49er offense with three hits, one run and an RBI, while junior Bridgette Pagano drove in a pair of runs with her fourth double of the season.
LBSU jumped out to an early lead, scoring all six of its runs in the bottom of the second frame. Junior Brandy Reyes was hit by the pitch to start things off and advanced to third on a double by senior Jonae Perez. Pagano then brought both runners home with a two-base hit to the gap in left center.
Freshman Alisha Rosen kept the rally going with a walk before the Matadors were able to record the first out of the inning. Junior Ashley Weber then reached on a fielder’s choice, allowing Pagano to cross the plate. After senior Jennifer Griffin walked, Linke drove in Weber with a single up the middle. Junior Kristen Pocock followed with a hard ground ball to CSUN third baseman Tracy Allen, who mishandled it, allowing two more runs to score.
In the top of the third, Cal State Northridge threatened as it loaded the bases with no outs. Turner was able to get Alexandria Alvarado to ground into a force out at home, before Christina Saenz reached on a fielder’s choice, allowing Jaclyn Rymer to score the Matadors’ lone run of the game. Turner ended the CSUN threat by striking out Micah Putnam.
The Beach has now won 16 of its last 18 meetings with Northridge and claimed its seventh-straight season series between the two teams.
Long Beach State returns to the field next weekend when it heads to San Luis Obispo for its first Big West road series at Cal Poly. The action gets underway with a doubleheader on Friday, April 10, beginning at noon, and will conclude with a single contest on Saturday, April 11 (Noon).
Report By LBSU