LBSU to Compete in Kia Classic PDF VERSION of this RELEASE KIA CLASSIC BRACKET (pdf) 9-12, 0-0 Big West
Home: 2-1 • Away: 1-5 • Neutral: 6-6 Quickly:
The Long Beach State softball team heads to Fullerton for the 2003 Fullerton/Kia Classic, March 12-16. The Tournament features 16 teams meeting face-to-face in pool play format consisting of four pools of four teams. LBSU is in Pool D, along with Arizona, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Florida State.
Series Records:
Long Beach State is 9-21 all-time versus Arizona; 1-1 versus Florida State; and this will be the first meeting between Louisiana-Lafayette and the 49ers.
Recapping the Week:
@ San Diego State Softball Tournament March 7-9
Long Beach State went 2-3 at the San Diego State Tournament last weekend...Arleigh Thorp took over the team lead in batting average after connecting for four doubles and one home run. Thorp also totaled six RBI. Lindsey Knoff picked up two victories (two shutouts), including a one-hitter versus Harvard on March 8.
The Long Beach State softball team lost to the San Diego State Aztecs, 3-2 in nine innings, at the San Diego State Softball Tournament, on Friday afternoon. Long Beach State would rally from a 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning with two runs, to take the 2-1 lead. SDSU would tie the game up in the top of the sixth, and would eventually win the game with a run in the top of the ninth.
The Long Beach State softball team lost a 5-4 decision to the University of San Diego, but rebounded with a 7-0 outburst over Harvard on Saturday.
Arleigh Thorp led the offensive explosion versus Harvard, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and one run scored. Lauren Johnson went 2-for-4 with two runs. Long Beach State did its damage in the fourth and seventh innings, scoring two runs in the fourth, and three in the seventh to put away Harvard. Junior Lindsey Knoff pitched her fourth shutout of the season, with a one-hitter.
The 49ers could not hold a 4-0 lead versus San Diego in the morning game, as USD scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning to prevail, 5-4. Meredith Cervenka picked up the loss, despite going 1-for-3 at the plate with three RBI. She struck out nine batters in the losing effort.
The 49ers went 1-1 on Sunday in the final day of the tournament.
Lindsey Knoff helped Long Beach State win its 1-0 decision over Northern Iowa on the mound and at the plate. Knoff allowed just four hits, no runs, and four strikeouts in 7.0 innings, while also going 1-for-2 from the plate with one RBI (driving in Roxanne Staniorski).
The 49ers dropped the afternoon game to the San Diego State Aztecs, 2-0. LBSU only managed two hits in the game. Meredith Cervenka picked up the loss, giving up two runs on six hits, and five strikeouts.
News & Notes
Leading Off:
The Long Beach State Softball team (9-12) heads down the 57 to Fullerton for the 2003 Kia Classic, playing Florida State, Arizona, and Louisiana-Lafayette. Arizona is ranked No. 2 in the country, and FSU is ranked in the top-25.
700 Club:
After LBSU's 2-0 upset victory over Stanford on Feb. 28, 20th year head coach Pete Manarino collected his 700th career victory. Manarino is the all-time winningest coach in Long Beach State history.
Johnson at the Top of the Order:
Sophomore Lauren Johnson hit her first career home run at the UCSB Early Bird Invite on Jan. 31. Johnson continued her success at the OU/Nike Classic when she belted home runs No. 2 & 3 on the season versus Creighton and Oklahoma. Johnson leads the team with three home runs. Moreover, Johnson has a .318 batting average, and ranks second on the team with seven RBI, 1st with 11 runs, 1st with five stolen bases, and is second with five doubles. (Johnson only hit one double last year).
Thorp Putting up Solid Numbers...Again:
After leading the team last season in batting average, hits, doubles, and triples, Arleigh Thorp is once again near the front of the statistical leaderboard this season for The Beach. She is 1st in batting average (.339), 1st in doubles (9), and is 2nd on the team with 20 hits. Thorp had a productive weekend at the San Diego State Tournament (March 7-9), totaling four doubles and one home run. Thorp went 3-for-4 with three doubles, four RBI, and one run in the 7-0 rout over Harvard on March 8. She hit her second home run of the season versus SDSU on March 7. Thorp has six multiple hit games this season.
In the Circle:
Pitcher Lindsey Knoff went 2-0 at the San Diego State Tournament and has built a 7-4 record with 55 strikeouts and a 1.35 ERA, in 83.0 innings of work this season. Knoff pitched a one-hitter versus Harvard on March 8. She pitched two consecutive shutouts versus Santa Clara and Illinois-Chicago on Jan. 31, and has five on the season. She ranks 5th in the league in ERA (As of last week).
LBSU Transfers:
Junior transfers Colleen Burdick (Fullerton JC) and Rocky Staniorski (San Jose State) have combined for 25 hits, eight runs, and six RBI in their debuts with the 49ers this season.
Fielder's Choice:
Burdick also has recorded a team-best 163 putouts, to go along with six assists, for a .994 fielding percentage.
Triple Threat:
Freshman Riki Paredes has provided a nice spark to the 49er line-up this season, totaling nine hits, two of which were triples (tied for best on the team). Paredes is batting .310 with two doubles, two triples, and two RBI.
49ers Picked Third in Poll:
The Long Beach State softball team was selected to finish in third place in the Big West Conference, according to the 2003 Pre-Season Coaches Poll, released Jan. 17 by the league office. The Beach (13-11 in conference play last season), received 44 points, trailing pre-season favorite Cal State Fullerton, and Pacific (2nd place). The 49ers have won three Big West Conference championships since 1996.
|
