LBSU Claims Conference Crown
49ers Top CS Northridge Twice for Automatic NCAA Tournament Berth
May 14, 2004 Parts of Game Story from CSUN Sports Information
NORTHRIDGE, CA -- The Long Beach State softball team came from behind in both ends of Friday's doubleheader at Matador Diamond to claim the 2004 Big West Conference Championship, defeating CS Northridge, 2-1 in game one, and 5-4 in game two. With the two victories, Long Beach State receives an automatic NCAA playoff berth. It is the program's fourth Big West Championship under head coach Pete Manarino. Long Beach State was the pre-season No. 1 in the Big West Coaches Poll released in January.
The 49ers improved to 47-11 overall and 17-3 in Big West Conference action, while the Matadors fell to 33-16 overall and 14-6 in Big West play. The 47 wins are the second most in program history, and the 47-11 mark is the best record thru 58 games in school history.
In game one, the Matadors took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when sophomore Jan Moshier hit her fourth home run of the season and third in as many games to left field.
Long Beach State came back though to score a run each in the sixth and seventh to notch the game one victory. Arleigh Thorp hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth to score Tiffanie Wedell to tie the game at one and Wedell drove in the game-winner in the seventh with a double to left field to plate Cassie Preece.
In the second contest, the 49ers got on the board first when Colleen Burdick led off the game with a homer to left. The Matadors responded with two in the bottom half of the first when sophomore Emilee Moores doubled home senior Christen Bedwell and junior Jade Abel for a 2-1 lead.
Northridge upped the lead to 4-1 in the second thanks to a pair of Long Beach errors. With freshman Darcy Hillstrom on third, sophomore Jen Dishner on second and Bedwell at first, Abel hit a groundball to second baseman Wedell, who fumbled the ball to allow Hillstrom and Dishner to score for a three-run lead.
The 49ers began their comeback in the third when Lauren Johnson scored on a fielder's choice groundout by Melanie McCauley and Thorp came home on an RBI single by Roxanne Staniorski.
Burdick would tie up the game at four in the fourth, belting her second homer of the game to left field. Burdick became the eighth player in 49er history to hit two home runs in one game.
In the seventh, Jamie Farnworth drove in the game-winner to score Johnson from second for the one-run lead.
The Matadors and the 49ers finish up their three-game series and the regular season on Saturday at Noon at Matador Diamond. Fans can watch the NCAA Softball selection show on ESPNEWS on Sunday, May 16 between 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. PST. 2004 will mark the 15th NCAA Regional appearance in school history. Box Score (G1)
Box Score (G2) |
