LBSU 7, Boise St 6
Despite committing six errors, the Long Beach State softball team saw its bats come through in the clutch, coming from behind twice to defeat Boise State, 7-6, in its first game of the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas.
Senior Bridgette Pagano (1-1) picked up her first victory of the season, allowing one run on three hits in 3.1 innings of relief. Sophomore Taylor Petty was credited with the save, getting the final out in the top of the seventh.
Junior Brooke Turner had earned the start, giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits, while striking out four.
Freshmen Nalani St. Germain and Caitrin DeBaun anchored the 49er offense as both connected for a homerun and finished with two RBI. Junior Casey Burba also had a pair of hits, while seniors Brandy Reyesand Jodi Nakawatase each drove in a run.
The Broncos (1-6) got on the board in their first at-bats as Laeha Hill scored on an LBSU error.
The Beach responded in the bottom of the second with three runs on two hits. Junior Christina Schallig led off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. After senior Ashley Levine moved her up 60 feet on a sacrifice bunt, Schallig scored on a Nakawatase double.
Nakawatase eventually scored on a sac fly by DeBaun and freshman Brooke Bell, who was pinch running for sophomore Jennifer Madigan, crossed the plate on a Bronco throwing error for the final run of the inning.
Boise State took advantage of four hits and three 49er miscues to regain the lead in the fourth, scoring four times to go up, 5-3.
LBSU (3-2) once again came back in the fifth inning as DeBaun led off with a solo shot over the fence in right center. Burba followed with a bunt single before St. Germain went deep for the third time this year, giving the 49ers a 6-5 advantage.
The Broncos evened the score at 6-6 in the top of the sixth, but Reyes drove in St. Germain for what proved to be the game-winner in the bottom half of the inning.
Boise State threatened in the seventh as Vanessa Alvarez doubled with two outs, but Petty came in and got Kelly Sweeney to fly out to end the game.
LBSU 1, Oregon 9
The Long Beach State softball team dropped a 9-1 decision to Oregon in the nightcap of its doubleheader Friday evening at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas.
Freshman Nalani St. Germain accounted for the 49ers’ lone run as she connected for her second homer of the day. St. Germain has now gone deep in four of LBSU’s six games this season. Senior Brandy Reyes also had a double and finished with two hits.
Sophomore Taylor Petty (1-2) suffered the loss in the circle, allowing five earned runs on eight hits.
St. Germain opened the game with a shot over the fence in right center field, giving The Beach an early 1-0 lead.
Oregon (6-3) responded in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs on three hits and a pair of LBSU errors. After tacking on one more in the third, Brittany Rumfelt put the Ducks up, 5-1, with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the fourth.
In the sixth, Samantha Pappas capped a three-run rally for UO as she drove in a pair with a double to center field, ending the game due to the eight-run rule.
Long Beach State (3-3) continues action at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic on Saturday, Feb. 20, when it takes on No. 10 Georgia Tech (1:30 p.m.) and Illinois-Chicago (3:45 p.m.).
Reports From LBSU