Reports From LBSU
The Long Beach State softball team (5-9) dropped a pair of games on the final day of the Cathedral City Classic as it fell to Colorado State, 3-2, and No. 13 California, 8-1.
Colorado State 3, Long Beach State 2
Colorado State scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Long Beach State, 3-2, Sunday morning at the Cathedral City Classic.
Freshman Nalani St. Germain led The Beach, going 2-for-4 with a home run, while seniors Ashley Weberand Kristen Pocock also found their way into the hit column.
Sophomore Taylor Petty (2-6) suffered the loss in the circle, giving up three runs on six hits, while striking out four.
The 49ers dented the scoreboard in the first inning as St. Germain led off the game with her team-best seventh home run.
CSU (5-5) eventually took the lead in the bottom of the third, but LBSU came back to tie the score at 2-2 in the fifth. Casey Burba drew a lead-off walk, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Megan Denio before crossing the plate on an illegal pitch.
The Rams answered once again as they pushed the game-winner across in the bottom of the seventh. Sarah Sullivan led off with a single and came around to score on a two-out walk-off double by Christine Thomsen.
No. 13 California 8, Long Beach State 1
No. 13 California used a four-run third inning to propel it to an 8-1 victory over Long Beach State at the Cathedral City Classic Sunday afternoon.
Valerie Arioto tossed a two-hit gem for the Golden Bears as she struck out nine 49ers.
Junior Casey Burba and sophomore Megan Denio each had a hit, while Burba scored LBSU’s lone run.
Cal (10-3) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning before breaking the game open with four runs in the third. Jace Williams highlighted the rally with a two-run double.
LBSU got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Burba and Denio had back-to-back infield singles. Freshman Nalani St. Germain then reached on a fielder’s choice and an error by Cal second baseman Shannon Thomas allowed Burba to come around to score.
The Golden Bears tacked on two more runs in the seventh for the final 8-1 margin. Williams led the Cal offense, which finished with 11 hits, as she went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Long Beach State returns to action next weekend when it heads south for the San Diego Classic I, March 5-7.