Long Beach State University
Western Kentucky
Linke Blast Lifts 49ers Over Western Kentucky
3/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 1, 2008
Las Vegas, Nev. - Danielle Linke's second-inning home run was all the offense needed for Brooke Turner, as Long Beach State grabbed a 2-0 win in their first game Saturday. Turner pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits.
The pitching for Western Kentucky (7-6) was nearly as good, holding Long Beach State (10-7) to five hits, but the 49ers took advantage of what mistakes the Hilltoppers did make. Jennifer Kempf retired the first five batters she faced, but Linke broke up the deadlock by depositing her first Division I home run into right-center.
Long Beach State had already survived the worst from Western Kentucky by that point, as Brooke Turner would only allow one hit the rest of the way. The 49ers added an insurance run in the fifth inning the more traditional way. Ashley Levine led off the inning with a single, and a second single by Franciscka Morlet put the second baseman in scoring position. Levine would then score on a third single of the inning, and RBI hit through the right side to account for the final score.
Ryan Rogge pitched 1.2 innings of hitless relief for the Hilltoppers, while Brooke Turner finished with four strikeouts and one walk in the complete-game shutout.
Long Beach State continues play in the Eller Media Stadium Classic later today, taking Pittsburgh at 1:30 p.m.
