Long Beach State University
Cal State Fullerton
Beach Splits Doubleheader At Fullerton
5/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 3, 2008
Fullerton, Calif. - Long Beach State held off Cal State Fullerton in game one Saturday, winning 3-2 in eight innings in the opener but fell in game two 2-1. Coming into the bottom of the seventh with a 1-0 lead, the 49ers allowed two runs for the loss.
The opener featured solid pitching, as Brooke Turner and Jessica Doucette battled through seven innings to a 1-1 tie. Cal State Fullerton struck first as a hit batter, Katie Gollhardt, came around to score on a sacrifice fly in the third. Long Beach State's run was similar, as Ashley Levine drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Jonae Perez.
Utilizing a two-out rally, the 49ers generated the winning runs in the top of the eighth. Danielle Linke singled to start the action, and Lacy Tyler singled into the gap, moving Linke to third and allowing Tyler to advance on the throw. With two runners in scoring position, Brianna Goad hit a hard shot to short, which was stopped by a diving Courtney Martinez, but her attempt to throw out Goad at first went wide, allowing Tyler to come home as well as Linke, who scored on the initial run.
Doucette doubled to lead off the bottom half of the inning, and scored on a single from K.C. Craddick. Turner would then retire three straight, catching two looking to end the game and hold on to a 3-2 win. Turner finished with seven strikeouts and her 24th win of the season. Both Linke and Franciska Morlet finished with two hits, and Morlet also added two stolen bases.
Striking first in game two, the 49ers picked up the opening run of the game in the second. Jennifer Griffin started the inning with a single, and would come around to score on a gapper by Lacy Tyler.
Bridgette Pagano, who appeared on track for her second shutout of the season after six scoreless innings allowing two hits, was finally reached in the seventh. Fullerton started the inning with a single by Kiki Munoz, and recorded their first out with a flyout. However, Craddick drew a walk, and after striking out Doucette, another walk loaded the bases with two outs. Cystal Vierya then tied the game after a ball was determined to have hit her instead of the bat, and a single from Sammie Dabbs ended game two as a 2-1 win for the Titans.
Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton will play one more game tomorrow to determine the winner of the series. First pitch is scheduled for Noon in Fullerton.
