The Long Beach State softball team nearly pulled off an upset of No. 10 Stanford, tying the game at 3-3 in the fifth inning, but the Cardinal was able to push the game-winner across in the sixth to come away with the 4-3 victory Friday evening at the Cathedral City Classic.

Sophomore Taylor Petty (2-4) went the distance for The Beach, giving up four runs on seven hits and four walks. LBSU also had three costly errors as two of Stanford’s runs were unearned.

Senior Brandy Reyes led the 49er offense, going 3-for-3 with one walk and two runs scored. FreshmanNalani St. Germain connected for her team-leading sixth home run of the season, while junior Liz Javier and freshman Caitrin DeBaun each finished with a hit and an RBI.

Long Beach State (4-6) dented the scoreboard in the top of the first as Reyes started a two-out rally with a single. After junior Christina Schallig walked, Javier drove in Reyes with a shot up the middle.

Stanford (10-2) responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs on two hits and one error. Rosey Neill put the go-ahead run across for the Cardinal with an RBI double.

Stanford took a 3-1 lead in the second before St. Germain got LBSU back on the board, leading off the top of the third with a home run to right field. St. Germain has now homered in six of the 49ers’ 10 games.

The Beach proceeded to load the bases with one out, but Teagan Gerhart (5-1) was able to get Jodi Nakawatase to ground into a fielders choice before striking out Jennifer Madigan on a full count to preserve the one-run advantage. 

LBSU eventually evened the score at 3-3 in the fifth. Reyes opened the inning with a single and Schallig followed with a walk. After Javier lined into a double play, DeBaun’s pinch-hit infield single scored Reyes from third.

The Cardinal answered once again, scoring what proved to be the game-winner in the bottom of the sixth. Sarah Hassman singled and advanced to second on a throwing error before coming around to score on an infield hit by Ashley Hansen.

The Beach threatened in the final inning as Reyes doubled to left field with one out. Megan Denio came in to pinch run for Reyes and advanced to third on a Schallig grounder. With two down, Javier worked Gerhart to a full count before lining out to second base to end the game.

Long Beach State continues action at the Cathedral City Classic tomorrow with a doubleheader against Long Island (12:30 p.m.) and Utah (3 p.m).