With Reports By Long Beach State Sports Information Dept.

The Long Beach State softball team has been looking for something to get back on track after some early season woes, and a quality win behind your ace arm and an emerging youngster will do the trick.  LBSU rallied in the seventh inning to pull out a 4-1 victory over Colorado State in the finale of the University of San Diego Tournament Sunday afternoon.

With the win, the 49ers avenged a 1-0 loss to the Rams earlier in the weekend and bounced back to finish the tournament with a 3-2 record. Sophomore Brooke Turner gave up only run in the first frame in four innings of work, and freshman Taylor Petty (3-0) picked up her second victory in as many days, tossing three scoreless innings of relief. The San Pedro native allowed three hits and one walk while striking out four.

Long Beach State (7-7) was out hit 9-4, but Colorado State made four costly errors in the final inning. Junior Ashley Levine and sophomore Andrea Littleworth both had an RBI single to lead The Beach.

The Rams (9-6) got on the board in the bottom of the first with Caitlan Stem connecting for a leadoff double. She eventually crossed the plate on a successful squeeze bunt by Allison Majam.  The 49ers continued to struggle on the offensive end against CSU as starting pitcher Dani Chaplin held The Beach to just two hits over the first six innings. LBSU refused to go down quietly, however, scoring four runs in the top of the seventh.

Senior Jennifer Griffin started the rally, reaching base on an error by Stem. Junior Kristen Pocock then hit a ground ball back to Chaplin, but a throwing error allowed Griffin to come all the way around to score the tying run. On the next play, the Rams committed their third consecutive error to put runners on the corners for LBSU. Levine took advantage of the miscues, plating Pocock with an RBI single.

With two outs, the Rams’ fourth error of the inning scored senior Jonae Perez before Littleworth knocked out a pinch-hit RBI single for the final 4-1 margin.

Colorado State threatened in its last at bat as the Rams loaded the bases, but Petty was able to get out of the jam with Majam flying out to center field for the final out.

The ladies return home next weekend when it hosts the Mayfair Tournament this weekend. The 49ers are set to open action with a single game against Iowa State Friday at 1:30pm.