Reports From LBSU

The Long Beach State softball team (17-17, 1-2 BWC) continues Big West action this weekend as it heads to Cal State Northridge for a three-game series, April 10-11.

The 49ers and Matadors will face off in a Saturday doubleheader before returning to the field for the finale on Sunday. First pitch for both days is set for noon at Matador Diamond.

SCOUTING THE MATADORS
Cal State Northridge dropped to 17-18 overall and 1-2 in Big West play after suffering a 2-1 series loss to UC Davis last weekend. Jennifer Mosier leads the Matadors on the season with a .326 batting average. Lauren Olivas is also hitting over .300, while Jaci Carlsen has a team-leading 22 RBI.

Hannah Fraijo has anchored the CSUN pitching staff with a 9-6 record, 3.30 earned run average and 71 strikeouts.

SERIES RECORDS
The Beach leads in its series with Cal State Northridge, 47-39. The 49ers swept the Matadors at home last year and are currently on a four game winning streak. The Beach has also claimed eight of the last 10 meetings between the two teams.

49ERS AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS
Senior Ashley Weber ranks 19th in the nation with 0.27 sacrifice hits per game, while she also sits at No. 19 on the toughest to strike out list. Freshman Nalani St. Germain is among the top 80 in the country in walks per game (0.65), runs per game (0.91) and home runs (8).

DEBAUN DOMINATES
Freshman Caitrin DeBaun tallied at least one hit and one RBI in all three games against Pacific last weekend. She finished the series with a .444 batting average (4-for-9) and drove in a team-high four runs.

DeBaun also had a strong showing at the San Diego Classic II (March 19-21), hitting safely in all five contests of the tournament, including a 2-for-3 performance against Oregon State. The Garden Grove, Calif., native is currently second on the team in RBI (15) and third in batting average (.297).

TURNER TIME
Over her first two years at The Beach, junior Brooke Turner has been stellar in Big West play, compiling a 19-4 record, 1.03 ERA and 143 strikeouts. In the 2010 BWC series opener against Pacific last weekend, Turner continued to shine, giving up just four runs on nine hits, while striking out 12 in 14.0 innings of work.

FRESHMAN SENSATION
Freshman Nalani St. Germain had a huge weekend in her first collegiate action at the Sportco Kick-Off Classic, Feb. 13-14. Over four games, St. Germain went 7-for-13 (.538) with seven runs scored, six RBI and two home runs, including a grand slam in an 8-5 victory over Cal State Bakersfield.

The Chino Hills, Calif., native has continued to be one of the most consistent 49er hitters, knocking out six more home runs for a team-leading eight on the season. That number puts her in a tie for fifth in the LBSU single-season record books. St. Germain is also tops on the team in runs scored (31), hits (30), RBI (23), walks (22) and doubles (6).

RING ONE UP FOR REYES
Senior Brandy Reyes leads all 49er starters with a .310 batting average. Her strongest outing to date came at the San Diego Classic II, where she finished with five hits, two multiple-hit games and four RBI. Against Oregon State, she went 2-for-2 with three runs batted in, two of which came off one swing of the bat as she connected for her first home run of the season.

ONE-HIT WONDER
Sophomore Taylor Petty put forth a solid effort at the Long Beach Invitational (March 12-14), going 2-0 with a 1.40 earned run average and 21 strikeouts in 20.0 innings. Petty led The Beach to a win over Buffalo, tossing a one-hit complete game shutout. It was Petty’s second career one-hitter as she accomplished the feat in her first collegiate start at San Diego in 2008. The San Pedro native currently leads the 49ers with a 2.84 ERA, while she has also registered 88 strikeouts.

FOR THE RECORD
Brooke Turner is making her way up several categories in the 49er career record books. She currently ranks second in strikeouts (483), sixth in shutouts (26), seventh in wins (54), eighth in complete games (61) and ninth in appearances (88).

ON DECK
Long Beach State stays on the road next week as it travels north to UC Davis for three games, April 17-18.