From LBSU reports
Long Beach State snapped Cal State Northridge’s 11-game winning streak by sweeping the Matadors in a Big West doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the 49er Softball Complex.
The Beach defeated CSUN, 6-2, in the opener before pulling out a narrow 3-2 victory in the nightcap to secure its seventh-straight season series win against the Matadors.
Sophomore Brooke Turner went the distance in the first game, allowing two runs on four hits and a pair of walks. Turner finished with seven strikeouts and improved to 12-7 on the season.
LBSU (23-14, 4-1 BWC), which knocked out 11 hits, used a four-run fourth inning to run away with the win. Junior Ashley Weber led the 49er attack, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Senior Danielle Linke and freshman Alisha Rosen also had a pair of hits while driving in a run.
The Beach dented the scoreboard in the second frame as junior Kristen Pocock drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a base hit by classmate Brandy Reyes. CSUN was able to retire the next two batters, but Rosen then singled to give the 49ers the early lead.
Long Beach State added another run in the third inning when Linke drove in Weber with a triple down the left field line.
Cal State Northridge (23-11, 3-2 BWC) came back to tie the game at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the fourth, but The Beach responded with a huge two-out rally in the bottom half of the inning. After Reyes struck out looking, the 49ers had three consecutive singles from senior Jonae Perez, junior Bridgette Pagano and Rosen. With the bases loaded, CSUN pitcher Debbie Duran was able to get senior Brianna Goad to ground into a force out at home, but Weber then came through with a clutch two-RBI single. After Goad crossed the plate on a wild pitch, Griffin’s ninth double of the season scored Weber for the final 6-2 margin.
In Game 2, freshman Taylor Petty (10-3) picked up her 10th win of the season as she gave up two runs on just three hits while striking out four.
Long Beach State was also held to just three hits, but was aided by a pair of Matador errors. Weber paced the offense, going 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI.
CSUN opened the scoring in the first inning as Christina Saenz doubled home Karla Chaparro, but LBSU tied it up in the bottom of the second when Pocock led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Reyes. Pagano then drove in Pocock with a double to the gap in left field.
The Matadors went back on top with a run in the third frame, but the 49ers responded once again as Weber and Griffin were both hit by the pitch to start the bottom half of the inning. Linke then grounded into a force out, but CSUN second baseman Micah Putnam made an errant throw trying to complete the double play, allowing Weber to come around to score.
The Beach then took its first lead of the game in the fourth when Weber singled home Pagano for what proved to be the game winner.
Petty finished the game strong, holding the Matadors hitless over the final four innings.
Long Beach State concludes its weekend series with Cal State Northridge with a single game on Sunday, April 5. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.