Reports From LBSU
The Long Beach State softball team (19-17, 3-2 Big West) picked up a doubleheader sweep over Cal State Northridge Saturday afternoon at Matador Diamond. The 49ers defeated CSUN, 6-4, before sophomore Taylor Petty led The Beach to a 1-0 victory in the nightcap with a two-hit shutout.
Long Beach State 6, Cal State Northridge 4
Long Beach State came back from an early 3-0 deficit to defeat Cal State Northridge, 6-4, in the front end of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Matador Diamond.
Junior Bridgette Pagano (3-1) picked up the win, allowing just one run on three hits in 4.0 innings of relief.
The 49ers tallied 10 hits, with freshmen Nalani St. Germain and Bree Stephan, and senior Brandy Reyes all going 2-for-4. Junior Christina Schallig finished with two runs scored and connected for her first homer of the season.
CSUN took the lead in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs on three hits. Tracy Allen highlighted the early rally with a two-run home run.
The 49ers then started to chip away in the second as Schallig got The Beach on the board with a solo shot over the left field fence.
LBSU tied it up in the top of the fifth when Stephan led off with an infield single. After the Matadors retired the next two 49ers, Stephan stole second before Caitrin DeBaun drove her in with a double to the gap in right center. Reyes then singled home DeBaun to even the score at 3-3.
Long Beach State took the lead in the sixth before adding a pair of insurance runs in the final frame. Schallig started the two-out rally with a walk and Casey Burba then reached on a fielding error. Ashley Levine followed with a double down the right field line to plate Schallig and Burba eventually came around to score on a single by Stephan.
CSUN threatened in the bottom half of the inning as Jennifer Mosier connected for an RBI double, but Pagano was able to get Jaci Carlsen to fly out to end the game.
Long Beach State 1, Cal State Northridge 0
Sophomore Taylor Petty tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout to lead the 49ers to a 1-0 victory and a doubleheader sweep over Cal State Northridge.
Petty, who had a no-hitter heading into the fourth inning allowed just two singles, while striking out six.
Junior Liz Javier finished with a hit and scored the only run of the game. Freshman Nalani St. Germain and seniors Brandy Reyes and Kristen Pocockalso found their way into the hit column.
The Beach pushed the eventual game-winner across in the second inning when Javier led off with a single and Christina Schalligfollowed with a walk. With two outs, Bree Stephan was hit by the pitch before St. Germain drew a bases-loaded walk.
The Matadors’ (17-20, 1-4 BWC) best opportunity to get on the board came in the sixth frame when they loaded the bases with a hit batter, a single and a walk, but Petty got out of the jam by striking out Tracy Allen.
Long Beach State returns to Matador Diamond on Sunday, April 11, when it takes on Cal State Northridge in the series finale at noon.