Long Beach State University
California
Beach Falls In Slugfest With Cal 15-7
2/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 29, 2008
Las Vegas, Nev. - Senior Jessica Beaver moved into second place on the LBSU career home run list with a leadoff home run against Cal, but that was just the first of many runs for both teams in a 15-7 loss. Long Beach State came back to tie the game at 5-5 after a four-run third, but the Golden Bears answered with more runs in the bottom half.
Jessica Beaver started off the game with a bang for Long Beach State. Facing Cal's Melissa Dewry, Beaver took a 1-2 offering to left field for her second home run of the season. That was also the 17th career home run for the senior, passing Jessica Smith for second place among all Long Beach State players.
That was the end of the good news for a while for Long Beach State. In the bottom half of the inning, Cal tied the game after the throw on a stolen base from Valerie Arioto sailed wide in the first, and then Cal scored four more runs in the bottom of the second, mainly on the strength of a two-run double from Sanoe Kekahuna.
Long Beach State would recover to tie the game in the top of the third. Ashley Weber led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Lacy Tyler then followed with an RBI single, and after a free pass to Jennifer Griffin, a beanball to Brooke LeSage loaded the bases for the 49ers. An RBI groundout from Danielle Linke scored one run, and then a two-run single from Ashley Levine tied the game at 5-5.
Cal would continue to pour on runs however, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third and five in the fourth to take a commanding lead. The 49ers produced a few more runs of their own, but were unable to overtake the Golden Bears of the remainder of the game.
For Long Beach State, Tyler had three hits and Ashley Levine added a pair of hits and two RBI. Jennifer Griffin was 1-for-1 with three walks to join Beaver among the offensive leaders for the 49ers. Long Beach State finished with 10 hits in the loss.
Catcher Julie Meyer had 5 RBI with a home run to lead the Golden Bears. The 49ers continue play at the Eller Media Stadium Classic early tomorrow morning against Western Kentucky at 9 a.m.
