Long Beach State University
UC Davis
49ers Sweep UC Davis In Doubleheader
3/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 29, 2008
Davis, Calif. - Opening Big West play on the road at UC Davis, the 49ers swept both ends of a doubleheader, winning 1-0 and 8-3 on Saturday. Brooke Turner struck out eight in a shutout win in the opener, and the 49ers smacked three home runs to win the second half.
Despite missing some chances in the opener, Long Beach State put enough offense together to grab another win for Brooke Turner, who outdueled UC Davis' Jessica Hancock for a 1-0 win.
Turner punched out eight Aggie batters and allowed just four hits en route to her tenth complete-game shutout on the season. UC Davis had their best chance to score right of the bat, after leadoff hitter Michelle Espiritu singled to open the game. A sacrifice moved her to second, and a groundout gave the Aggies their only runner to reach third on the game. Turner responded with her first strikeout of the game against cleanup hitter Deanna Menapace to get out of the inning.
A pair of UC Davis double plays shut down scoring opportunities for the Beach in the second and fourth innings, but Long Beach State got the only run they needed in the third. Jonae Perez opened the inning with a double to center to get things going, and after an error to put Lacy Tyler on, Jennifer Griffin was hit to load the bases. Danielle Linke's grounder brought home Casey Burba, running for Perez for Long Beach State's only run.
In game two, offense was the name of the game as a season-high three home runs helped the 49ers come back from a two-run deficit in a 8-3 win in game two.
UC Davis brought across two runs in the bottom of the first to grab a lead. Espiritu again started off the game with a hit, and after a sacrifice, a walk and another single loaded the bases for the Aggies. Bridgette Pagano struck out Erin Emde, but an error by Jonae Perez allowed two runs to come home for UC Davis.
Right away, the 49ers made their move to get back into the game, as Griffin homered to left field to lead off the second, sparking a rally for the Beach. Brooke LeSage followed with a single, and scored after consecutive singles from Danielle Linke and Ashley Levine loaded the bases, setting the stage for a Brianna Goad sacrifice fly.
Long Beach State then took the lead after Perez came around for an unearned run in the third inning, and added an insurance run on a solo home run from Jessica Beaver in the fifth. Menapace cut the 49ers lead back to one with a solo home run in the top of the sixth, but Beaver doubled to bring in two unearned runs in the sixth, and LeSage cracked the 49ers third home run down the left-field line in the top of the seventh to seal the win.
The 49ers and the Aggies conclude their series on Sunday, as the teams play one final time at LaRue field. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.
