Long Beach State University
Missouri
49ers Fall To Missouri In First Game Saturday
5/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 17, 2008
Iowa City, Iowa - Long Beach State grabbed an early lead, but Missouri stormed back with five runs to take a 5-3 win in the first game. With the win, the Tigers move on to the championship game, while the 49ers will have one more game to play Saturday.
The 49ers again got on the board first, scoring in the second inning. Jennifer Griffin started the inning with a single, and Danielle Linke pushed over pinch-runner Casey Burba into scoring position. Completing the small ball run, the 49ers took a 1-0 lead on a Lacy Tyler single.
Missouri came back to take the lead in the third inning. Rhea Taylor dropped a bunt and moved to third after two errors on the play, and the extra attention to Taylor on the basepaths led to an Amanda Renth home run to dead center, putting the Tigers in the lead 2-1.
Renth would hurt the 49ers again in the fifth inning. Julie Silver doubled to start a Tiger rally, and Renth hit a second double to add another run for Missouri. Pinch-running for Renth would then pay off for the Tigers, as Michaele Vock scored on a Jessica Beaver error, making the score 4-1.
Long Beach State had some chances, stranding seven runners on the day. In the fourth, the 49ers were able to get two runners into scoring position with two outs, but couldn't get a run across, and with runners on the corners and one out in the fifth, new Missouri pitcher Stacy Delaney retired Brooke LeSage and Jennifer Griffin to end the threat.
Again plagued by errors, Missouri would only score one earned run on the day, as the 49ers made five errors leading to four Tiger runs, undoing a good start for Long Beach State. A two-run home run by Brooke LeSage brought the 49ers closer, cutting the gap to two runs, but a popup from Jennifer Griffin ended the game for a Missouri win.
The 49ers will play a second game Saturday for the right to advance to the championship game. Long Beach State will take on the winner of Iowa and Creighton at 5 p.m. CT.
