49ers Host The Tigers
LBSU Hosts Pacific In Big League Match-Up
April 28, 2004
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40-10, 10-2 Big West
Up Next: vs. Pacific (31-15, 9-3) • May 1-2
ESPN/USA Softball Rank: No. 21/ NFCA Rank: No. 19
Quickly:No. 19/21 ranked Long Beach State (40-10, 10-2) returns home to face No. 24/25 ranked Pacific (31-15, 9-3) for a three-game series begining with a double-header on Saturday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m. at the 49er Complex. The Beach recorded its 40th win of the season on Sunday. It is the first time that the program has reached 40 wins since 1997. The 40-10 mark is the best record thru 50 games in school history. After taking two out of three games over CS Fullerton last weekend, Long Beach State has won eight straight conference season-series (dating back to 2003), and 10 out of the last 11 (also dating back to last season). In League news, Marcel Torres earned the Big West Co-Pitcher of the Week. All three softball games can be heard on www.SportsNetUSA.net. Raymond Baker will call this weekend's action.
Last Game Recap
Long Beach State took 2-of-3 from the CS Fullerton Titans (Apr. 24-25). The 49ers dropped the first game, but rebounded with two wins on Apr. 24 and 25. It was the first time that LBSU won the season series over CSUF since the 2000 campaign. Marcel Torres and Arleigh Thorp connected for home runs in the series. Torres also pitched a two-hit shutout on Sunday in the 3-0 Beach win. Meredith Cervenka recorded career strikeout No. 400 on Apr. 24.
49ers in Two Top 25 Polls: Long Beach State are still ranked in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Poll as they check in at No. 21 this week. LBSU entered the poll for the first time this season at No. 25 when the ESPN/USA Softball Top 25 Poll was released on March 9. Long Beach moved up one spot in the NFCA Top 25 Poll to No. 19 (poll released Apr. 28).
Blank Check: The Long Beach State pitching staff has combined to throw eight shutouts since April 3 at UC Riverside. LBSU has allowed just seven runs in conference play this season.
LBSU Reaches 40, and a School Record: Long Beach State reached its 40th victory of the season on Sunday, April 25. The 40-10 record is the best mark thru 50 games in school history. It is the first time that LBSU has reached 40 wins since 1997. The 49ers also broke the previous school record of 11 straight wins set by the 1996 club, with a 12-game win streak from Mar. 13 to Mar. 30.
Beach Bombers: Long Beach State broke the previous school record (20) with 22 home runs on the season after Arleigh Thorp and Marcel Torres went yard at CS Fullerton on Apr. 24.
Marinating on The Big West: Long Beach State pitchers, Marcel Torres (0.83 ERA), Lindsey Knoff (1.15 ERA) and, Meredith Cervenka (1.17 ERA) rank 1-2-3 respectively in the conference in lowest ERA (as of Apr. 26). LBSU ranks No. 1 in the league with an overall staff ERA of 1.05. All three have won Big West Pitcher of the Week honors this season.
History Repeats Itself: In 1988, the Long Beach State softball team started 36-8 thru 44 games, before losing game No. 45, 4-1 in extra innings, to Fresno State on Apr. 15. On Saturday versus Cal Poly, the 2004 LBSU club lost its 45th game of the season, in extra innings, to Cal Poly, 1-0 on Apr. 17.
Double-Duty: Junior transfer Marcel Torres has been very productive in both the circle and at the plate this season. For the third time this season, she was named as the Big West Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week (Apr. 26) after pitching a two-hit shutout vs. CSUF on Apr. 25 with five strikeouts. She also connected for a two-run HR on Apr. 24. vs. the Titans. Torres was named as the BWC Co-Pitcher of the Week for a second time after her dominating performance the Kipa Aloha Classic (Mar. 4-7). She pitched 19.0 innings, allowing just one run on nine hits and 20 strikeouts. Torres did not allow a double, triple, or home run versus her opponents. Torres produced a season-high nine strikeouts versus Charleston on 3/6. She was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Pitcher. She also did damage at the plate in the Kipa Tournament, notching a two-run home run, her first of the season, versus Charleston on Mar. 6.Torres was named the Big West Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week (2/24) after tossing a shutout against the then No. 4-ranked Washington Huskies on Feb. 20 at the 14th Annual Campbell/Cartier Classic hosted by San Diego State. The junior went 7.0 innings, and allowed just four hits, and issued two walks with four strikeouts, in the 1-0 LBSU victory. Torres pitched a two-hit shutout in a 1-0 win over Cal Poly in game two of the double-header on Apr. 18. She went 4-for-8 from the plate in the Utah State series with a double, and made an appearance on Apr. 10 in the circle with 2.0 innings of work. Torres picked up her second victory of the season versus Santa Clara on Jan. 31 when she allowed one run on four hits and three strikeouts in seven innings. Torres pitched seven shutout innings in a 4-0 win over Santa Clara on Feb. 8. Torres shutdown No. 4-ranked Washington allowing just four hits in a 1-0 victory on Feb. 20. Torres has also been efficient at the plate, notching a .246 batting average with 31 hits (six doubles) and 15 RBI, and 10 runs scored. Torres knocked in two runs in the fifth inning at UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 31. Torres has accumulated a 12-2 record and a 0.83 ERA in 92.2 innings pitched, allowing just 11 earned runs and 73 strikeouts. She has pitched 16 consecutive scoreless innings and has only allowed five hits since Apr. 10. Her ERA is tops in the Big West Conference.
Knoff Continues Hot Play: Lindsey Knoff became the sixth player in school history to pitch a perfect game after a 4-0 win over Utah State on Apr. 9. Knoff's perfect game came less than a month after teammate Meredith Cervenka pitched a perfect game on Mar. 20. This was Knoff's second no-hitter of the season. For her efforts, Knoff was selected as the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week (Apr. 12). Knoff won eight straight games from Mar. 5 thru Mar. 25. She tallied her 12th victory of the sesaon when she allowed one run on eight hits in a 4-1 victory in G2 vs. CS Fullerton on Apr. 24. Knoff collected her 11th victory of the season when she pitched a four-hit shutout in a 2-0 win over Cal Poly on Apr. 18. She gave up one run on three hits in a 9-1 LBSU win over Dartmouth on Mar. 25. She pitched her first career no-hitter in a 7-0 victory over Canisius on 3/17. In fact Knoff had a perfect game into the sixth inning of that contest. For the week, Mar. 17-21, Knoff compiled a 3-0 record and a 0.64 ERA. Knoff went 2-0 in the Fresno State Tournament (3/11-14), giving up just eight hits without allowing a run in 14.0 innings of work for 0.00 ERA. She returned from an ankle injury in the Kipa Aloha Classic (Mar. 4-7) and recorded her 300th career strikeout in a 4-1 win over College of Charleston on 3/5. Knoff went 7.0 innings and allowed just one run on four hits and six strikeouts in her return to the circle. Her 339 career strikeouts are No. 4 all-time at The Beach. Knoff moved to No. 5 all-time in innings pitched this season (103.1) with 642.6 career innings pitched. Knoff has compiled a 12-3 mark this season with a 1.15 ERA in 103.1 innings. Her 52 career wins are fifth most at The Beach. She ranks No. 3 in the Big West in ERA.
Full Cerv-ice: 2003 Big West Co-Pitcher of the Year Meredith Cervenka tossed 33 consecutive scoreless innings from Mar. 17 to Apr. 3, and had 18.0 innings of no-hit softball from Mar. 20 to Mar. 30. She pitched her second consecutive no-hitter in a 1-0 victory over Dartmouth on Mar. 25. Cervenka also added a career-tying high 13 strikeouts in that contest. The 13 K's equaled the school record for most strikeouts thrown in a single game (Cervenka, 2003 and Diane Lewis, 1985). During her 26.0 consecutive scoreless innings since Mar. 13 thru Mar. 25, she was named the Big West Co-Pitcher of the Week (Mar. 25). It was her second Pitcher of the Week award this season. Although Cervenka suffered the G1 loss to CS Fullerton on Apr. 24, she did record career strikeout No. 400. Despite losing a tough 1-0 loss to Cal Poly, Cervenka went 17.0 innings and struck out 10 batters. She compiled a 2-0 record in the Utah State series (Apr. 9-10), in 10.0 innings of work. She pitched a four-hit shutout on Apr. 9, including five strikeouts vs. the Aggies. Cervenka went 3-0 from Mar. 30 thru Apr. 4 with a 0.35 ERA, allowing just one run on eight hits and 16 strikeouts in 20.0 innings of work. Cervenka became the fifth player in program history to pitch a perfect game in a 3-0 victory over Iowa on March 20 in the Capital Classic. It was the first perfect game since Ruby Flores pitched a perfect game in 1991. Cervenka was also named to the Capital Classic All-Tournament Team after posting a 2-0 record and a 0.00 ERA. In fact for the week of Mar. 17-21, she totaled 17 strikeouts and only gave up four hits, and no runs. For her efforts, Cervenka was named as the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week (3/23). Cervenka went 2-0 in the Kipa Aloha Classic (Mar. 4-7) with a 0.64 ERA in 11.0 innings of work. Cervenka collected her second win at UC Santa Barbara allowing one run on two hits in LBSU's 8-1 victory. Cervenka pitched 7.0 shutout innings, allowing three hits and six strikeouts in a 4-0 win over Santa Clara on Feb. 6. She pitched her second shutout of the season versus Ohio on Feb. 20, and registered a season-high nine strikeouts versus Iowa State on 2/21. Cervenka, in fact recorded her 300th career strikeout versus Santa Clara on 2/6. Her 16 wins have given her 51 for her career, sixth most in school history. Cervenka certainly has been quite productive in the circle for the 2004 campaign. She has recorded 116 strikeouts this season to move to No. 2 all-time at The Beach with 401 career strikeouts. She is 7 strikeouts away from No. 1 (Stacy Van Essen - 408 K's). Cervenka has compiled a 16-5 record with a 1.17 ERA, allowing 25 runs on 79 hits and 116 strikeouts. She is No. 3 in the BWC in ERA, and No. 1 in wins.
They Dig the Long Ball: Arleigh Thorp is closing in on the career home run record at Long Beach State (16) set by Jessica Smith (1999-02). Thorp has 15 career home runs. She is already the school record holder in career-doubles with 45 (t-No. 6 all-time in BWC history). Thorp has connected for 11 doubles (tied for second most in BWC play) this season, to go along with a .293 batting average, with 32 runs scored, and 29 RBI. Her 13 stolen bases are the fourth most in a single season in program history. She connected for her fifth HR of the season with a solo shot in G2 vs. CSUF on Apr. 24. She also totaled two stolen bases for teh series. Thorp had a monster series vs. Utah State (Apr. 9-10), belting a .714 batting average an compiling five runs, three doubles, and four RBI. Thorp went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three runs and three RBI in the 16-0 victory over USU on Apr. 10. She went 3-for-3 with an RBI double in the 4th inning in game 2 at Riverside on Apr. 3. Thorp compiled a .435 batting average from Mar. 17-21, compiling 10 hits and 10 RBI. She hit a grand slam versus Tennessee State. In fact her five RBI vs. TSU were tied for the third most in a single game in school history. For her efforts, Thorp was named as the Big West Conference Player of the Week (3/23). Thorp belted out seven hits in 18 at bats for a .389 batting average in the Kipa Aloha Classic (Mar. 4-7). She helped LBSU rally from a 1-0 deficit in the championship game versus Hawai'i with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning on March 7. She also scored five runs and drove in four in the tournament as well. Thorp hit a two-run home run, her first of the season in the Campbell/Cartier Classic versus Iowa State in the first inning to propel the 49ers to a 6-2 victory. Thorp moved to No. 3 all-time at The Beach this season with 87 career RBI's.
Six is Good: Jamie Farnworth landed her second Big West Offensive Player of the Week award for the period ending April 7. Farnworth was given the honor after her performance in the Kipa Aloha Tournament, April 4-7. Farnworth was also selected as the Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Week, for the period ending Feb. 12. Farnworth (Upland, Calif.) has helped Long Beach State to a 40-10 mark this season, after posting a team-best .359 batting average (No. 7 in the Big West), with 24 runs, five home runs, and 27 RBI. Farnworth connected for her first career home run on opening day in a 5-1 win over Oregon State on January 30 at the UCSB Early Bird Invite in Santa Barbara. She followed that performance up the same day with a game-winning three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning versus Illinois-Chicago, to give Long Beach State a 5-4 victory over the Flames. Despite falling to the top-ranked Bruins at the Long Beach State Invitational on 2/7, Farnworth went 2-for-3 with a double off Bruin All-American pitcher Keira Goerl. She garnered the Most Outstanding Player honor in the Kipa Aloha Classic (March 4-7) after batting .556 with 10 hits, seven runs, seven RBI, and a home run. She went 2-for-2 with five RBI and two runs vs. Siena (3/4). Farnworth hit .263 and scored three runs in the tournament in Fresno (3/11-14). Farnworth has also compiled a .518 slugging percentage and a .453 on base percentage this season. She batted .409 at the Capital Classic (Mar. 19-21), pounding out nine hits (2 doubles), two RBI and two runs. She went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in the double-header vs. Dartmouth (Mar. 25). Jamie connected for a .400 batting average in the Utah State series (Apr. 9-10), compiling four RBI. She went 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI vs. USU on Apr. 10. Jamie connected for a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, which proved to be enough in a 2-0 win over Cal Poly in game one of a double-header on Apr. 18. She went 5-for-10 in the Fullerton series (Apr. 24-25) with a pair of RBI. Farnworth was a Big West All-Conference honorable mention last season, and will play for the Greek Olympic team in this year's Summer Olympics in Athens.
LJ OK: Lauren Johnson posted her best season in a 49er uniform last season, and has shown no signs thus far of slowing down in 2004. LJ went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the 3-0 victory in G3 at CS Fullerton (Apr. 25). Johnson went 1-for-2 with two runs scored vs. Utah State on Apr. 10. LJ went 7-for-16 from Mar. 30 thru Apr. 4, with two triples, one home run, three RBI, and five runs scored. Johnson connected for her fourth HR of the season in her first at-bat in game one vs. UCR on 4/3. She went 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI in game two. Her RBI triple in the fifth inning vs. UCR in game 3 (4/4) helped LBSU unlock a scoreless tie with three runs in the inning. Johnson scored seven runs and drove in four from Mar. 17-21. In fact Johnson was the hero in LBSU's 5-4 win over Wisconsin (3/19) after she hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to end the game. Johnson scored seven runs and drove in four, and hit one home run in the Kipa Aloha Classic (Mar. 4-7). Johnson hit a two-run home run in the championship game versus Hawai'i (3/7) to break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning. She went 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI vs. Siena on Mar. 4. She generated both runs in the pair of 1-0 victories on Feb. 20 versus No. 4-ranked Washington and Ohio. LJ went 3-for-3 with a .429 batting average in the Campbell/Cartier Classic in San Diego (2/20-21) with three runs, a double, and an RBI. She connected for her seventh RBI of the season in the fifth inning versus Iowa State on 2/21. Johnson went 6-for-15 in the UCSB Early Bird Tournament with three runs and four RBI, and one home run. Johnson has also added two stolen bases to her totals this season as well. Johnson went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI in the 49ers come-from-behind victory versus Illinois-Chicago on Jan. 30. Johnson hit a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning versus Oregon State to give Long Beach State a 5-1 lead and eventual win. Johnson went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI in LBSU's 4-1 win over San Diego State on Feb. 7. Johnson is batting .280 with 32 runs, 19 RBI, 40 hits, and five stolen bases this season. Her nine career HR's are No. 3 all-time in school history.
I Got the Magic Stick: Melanie McCauley opened up the conference schedule with a bang, compiling a .625 batting average at UC Riverside (Apr. 3-4), with five hits (2 HR, one double) and four RBI. She belted the two HR's in game one on Apr. 3. Her first career home run in the bottom of the second inning was a two-run shot, and she hit a two-run blast in the bottom of the 4th inning. She notched an RBI in the seven-run inning vs. Utah State on Apr. 10. She is batting .244 on the season with 18 RBI.
If You Smell What the Rock is Cookin': Catcher, Roxanne Staniorski was named to the all-tournament team at the Clovis Auto Row Softball Classic in Fresno (Mar.11-14). Roxanne went 6-for-18 (.333 batting average) with one run, a double and an RBI. She hit a two-out RBI single in the 4th inning to score Jamie Farnworth in a 1-0 win over North Texas (3/13). She scored the first run in game two in the bottom of the 5th inning vs. Utah State (4/9). For the season, Staniorski has a .234 batting average, and has collected five doubles and 12 RBI as well.
Good Hands with Gervasi in Right Field: Freshman Kourtnee Gervasi had a solid series vs. Utah State (Apr. 9-10), compiling a .600 batting average (3-for-5) with three run scored, and an RBI. She went 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI in game three vs. Utah State (4/10). She notched an RBI single in the bottom of the 8th inning to help give LBSU a 1-0 victory over Dartmouth on Mar. 25. She helped LBSU grind out a 2-1 win over Sacramento State on Mar. 21 at the plate and in the field. She connected for her first career home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the score a 1-1. Then in the top of the eighth inning, she prevented a possible go-ahead run and threw out Sac. St. player, Amy Walter from right field to first base with two outs to preserve the 1-1 score heading into the bottom of the inning. Gervasi went 3-for-9 (.333) with two runs scored in the Campbell/Cartier Classic in San Diego (Feb. 20-21). Gervasi has patrolled the right field with a 1.000 fielding percentage (34 put outs, 3 assists). Gervasi also has compiled a .245 batting average with 16 runs, 25 hits (two doubles), and seven RBI.
Burdick and Wedell Secure the Right Side: Senior Colleen Burdick has been steady at first base all season with 391 put outs and 18 assists (1 error) for a .998 fielding percentage. At the lead-off slot, Burdick has compiled a .268 batting average, with 45 hits (nine doubles, two triples), 26 runs, and 26 RBI. Burdick's RBI single in the fifth inning in game two of the DH proved to be the game winner, plating Cassie Preece in the 1-0 victory over Cal Poly on Apr. 18. She kept her hot bat in the second conference series of the season, notching five RBI an a .400 batting average vs. USU (Apr. 9-10). She went 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs vs. the Aggies on 4/10. She connected for a double that plated two runners in the first inning, and another two-run RBI double in the second inning on Apr. 10. Burdick hit .455 to open the conference schedule, notching five hits and five RBI. Burdick batted .286 with two home runs in the Kipa Aloha Classic (Mar. 4-7) in Honolulu. She went 3-for-6 with three runs in the double-header vs. Dartmouth (Mar. 25). Meanwhile, Tiffanie Wedell has accumulated a .981 fielding percentage (119 PO and 86 assists) at second base this season. Wedell is batting .210 this season with 19 runs scored. Tiffanie went 4-for-8 with two stolen bases and a 1.000 fielding percentage in the Cal Poly series (Apr. 17-18).
Fast Starts: Long Beach State has out-scored its opposition, 41-10 in the first inning this season. In fact LBSU generated 12 runs in the first inning alone versus Siena in the Kipa Aloha Classic on March 4. It was the second most runs scored in an inning in program history. LBSU has also generated the bulk of its runs in the 2nd (27), 4th (38), 5th (31), and 7th innings (17).
49ers Picked 1st: Long Beach State was selected to capture the 2004 conference crown, according to the Big West Coaches poll released in January. The 49ers return all nine starters from 2003 that finished 17-3 in conference play.
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