Cervenka Pitches Perfect Game
49ers Improve to 26-7 After Two More Wins at Capital Classic
March 20, 2004 SACRAMENTO, CA -- Long Beach State junior, Meredith Cervenka, pitched her first career perfect game, in a 3-0 victory over Iowa in the Capital Classic on Saturday afternoon. It was the fifth perfect game thrown in program history, and first since Ruby Flores pitched a perfect game on March 10, 1991.
Long Beach State broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning with all three runs. Kourtnee Gervasi's double to left field generated two runs, scoring both Roxanne Staniorski and Jamie Farnworth, who both had singles in the inning. Tiffanie Wedell capped the inning with a run after a wild pitch.
That was all Cervenka needed as she retired the next 12 Iowa batters. In all, Cervenka retired all 21 batters she faced. It was also her second career no-hitter.
The 49ers topped Nevada, 5-1 in the early afternoon session. Long Beach State jumped on the Wolfpack early with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Lauren Johnson, Arleigh Thorp, and Jamie Farnworth all singled to load the bases. Marcel Torres then connected for a single to center field to plate Johnson. Roxanne Staniorski then reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Thorp to score. Farnworth was the out at third base.
LBSU notched three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tiffanie Wedell helped generate the first run of the inning, after she led off with a single to right field. Wedell then scored after Kourtnee Gervasi singled to center field. Wedell was aided by an error by the center fielder on the throw. A Johnson double to center field followed, scoring Gervasi in the process. Thorp then singled to center field to score Johnson.
Lindsey Knoff collected the victory for The Beach to improve to 6-2, after 7.0 innings, allowing just one run on four hits. Johnson finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs.
Long Beach State (26-7) concludes the three-day tournament versus Sacramento State on Sunday, March 21 at 11:00 a.m. Box Score (gm 1)
Box Score (gm 2) |
