Iowa State and Fresno State pitchers probably iced their arms and ears Sunday evening after the Long Beach State softball team mercy ruled both teams on the final day of the Mayfair Tournament at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

With the wins the ‘Niners improve their record to 12-7 and are currently on an impressive eight-game win streak. But no wins were as nice as Sunday’s. Long Beach State scored 17 runs on 20 hits over the doubleheader and got stellar performances in the circle from sophomore star Brooke Turner and freshman stud Taylor Petty, who gave up one run on the day, and it was unearned. 

“At this point in the season we wanted to prove to ourselves that we can compete with the top teams in the country,” said head coach Kim Sowder. “That was our goal this weekend and we put it all together and did that.”

The Fresno State match up was slated to be the premier match-up of the weekend for the Niners as FSU came into the tournament ranked as the no. 12/15 team in the country in two different polls. Instead they suffered back to back loses to Big West opponents, 1-0 to Northridge and 8-0 to the ‘Niners in six innings.
 
Junior third-baseman Jennifer Griffin hit a two-run home run before fans could get comfortable in their seats to open up the second game of the day pacing the hit parade. The ‘Niners took advantage of a bases loaded situation in the fourth striking for four runs in the inning. Junior shortstop Ashley Levine brought in a run that inning ripping a triple that rolled beyond the centerfielder and all the way to the fence. But it was junior catcher Kristen Pocock hit that ended the game with her single to left scoring senior Breezy Goad.

Turner (7-3) pitched a gem, going six strong giving up two hits, no runs and striking out seven in the win against FSU.

It was no wonder coach Kim Sowder wouldn’t reveal her pitching lineup to the media Friday, choosing to keep it out of the reach of any opponents. Though we can sure keep a secret here at LBPostSports, the secret is out on freshman Taylor Petty. She brought an impressive high school resume to the Beach but more impressive was here dominance for the Niners this weekend. In their 9-1 win against Iowa State she went six innings giving up one unearned run on three hits and struck out four improving her record to 5-0 on the season.

Senior first-baseman Jonae Perez was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Griffin and Pocock added a pair of RBIs as well.

The Niners return to the field next weekend in the Long Beach Tournament back at the friendly confines of Lisa Fernandez Field at Mayfair Park.