Story By Long Beach State Sports Information Department
The Long Beach State softball team earned a split on the final day of the 19th annual Campbell-Cartier Classic Sunday afternoon at SDSU Softball Stadium. The 49ers got off to a rough start, falling to No. 7/10 Washington, 14-1, but bounced back to defeat host No. 24/rv San Diego State, 3-2.
The 49ers (4-5), who are ranked 24th in the latest ESPN/USA Softball poll finished the weekend with a 2-3 record. The victory over the Aztecs is a nice sign for a team looking for a spark.
In the 3-2 win over SDSU, sophomore Brooke Turner (3-2) went the distance for Long Beach State allowing one earned run on eight hits, while striking out six. Senior Danielle Linke was 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and a run scored and senior Jennifer Griffin added a pair of hits and an RBI.
LBSU broke open the scoring in the second inning as senior Jonae Perez led off with a hard-driven single to left field. Junior Kristen Pocock was then hit by the pitch before classmate Jodi Nakawatase placed a bunt down the first base line. Going for the lead runner, Aztec first baseman Monica Alnes made an errant throw to third, allowing Perez to come around to score. With runners on second and third and no outs, the 49ers were unable to push any more runs across.
The Beach added one more in the fifth with Linke picking up her second leadoff double of the game. Junior Ashley Weber moved her over to third with a sacrifice bunt before Griffin punched a single to left field, plating Linke. Junior Brandy Reyes followed with a long drive to the centerfield wall for a double, but Aztec freshman Bailey Micetich came in to retire the next two batters, keeping SDSU within striking distance.
The Aztecs (4-5) closed the gap in the bottom half of the inning with Brittney Knudsen smacking a single to left field and advancing to third on a double by Jessica Camello. Knudsen eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Erin Floros.
Long Beach State added a much needed insurance run, which proved to be the game-winner, in the top of the seventh. Griffin led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Reyes. After Perez struck out looking, Pocock chopped a ground ball over the head of Aztec third baseman Christine Kulick to bring Griffin home.
SDSU threatened in its final at bat with Camello taking second base on a throwing error by junior Ashley Levine to open the inning. After moving up a base on an infield single from Taryin Casillas, Tonye McCorkle laid down a squeeze bunt and Camello slid in safely as Griffin’s throw home was off the mark. The Aztecs had two runners on with one out, but Turner was able to retire the final two batters.
In the first game of the day, the University of Washington erupted for 11 runs in the third inning to run away with a 14-1 victory.
Junior Bridgette Pagano (0-2) was credited with the loss. Felicia Harris earned the start in the circle for the Huskies, but it was Danielle Lawrie (6-0) who picked up the win as she held The Beach scoreless in 4.2 innings of relief.
Brandy Reyes went 1-for-2 with the 49ers’ lone RBI. Jonae Perez and Ashley Weber also singled as LBSU was held to just three hits for the second game in a row.
Danielle Linke led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Weber. After Jennifer Griffin lined out to left field, Reyes poked a single through the right side to score Linke. Perez followed with a hit of her own and Kristen Pocock drew the second free pass of the inning before Lawrie came in for the Huskies, cutting the 49er rally short by getting junior Jodi Nakawatase to ground into a force out.
The Huskies quickly responded in the top of the second as Harris drove a two-out, three-run home run over the right field wall to give UW a 3-1 advantage.
Washington then broke the game open in the third with 11 runs on eight hits. Morgan Stuart highlighted the inning for UW with a two-run triple. Stuart finished the game with two runs scored and three RBI, while teammate Alicia Blake went 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBI.
Long Beach State returns to San Diego, Calif., next weekend for the USD Tournament, Feb. 20-22. The 49ers will begin action on Friday against Colorado State (noon) and Boise State (2 p.m.).