Long Beach State University Athletics
49ers Host Final Series Of Regular Season
5/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 7, 2008
Long Beach, Calif. -
Complete Softball Release in PDF Format 
This Week:
Pacific Tigers (24-32, 6-12 Big West) at
No. 16 Long Beach State 49ers (37-14, 13-5 Big West)
Dates: Friday May 9, Saturday May 10
Times: 1 p.m. (DH), 1 p.m.
Location: 49er Softball Complex
Next Week:
NCAA Regionals
Dates: Friday May 16 - Sunday, May 18
Times: TBA
Location: Campus Sites
Opportunities and Finales
Closing out the regular season, the 49ers host Pacific in the final Big West series of the year. With one win on the weekend, Long Beach State can lock up the conference's automatic bid, and two wins will give the 49ers their first outright Big West Championship since 2006. Long Beach State will also honor their four departing seniors in a ceremony prior to the final game on Saturday. Note that the times have changed for this weekend, with the doubleheader to be played on Friday and the third game on Saturday.
Scouting Pacific
Entering the last week of the season seventh in the Big West, Pacific has struggled this season. Their biggest win of the season came at the Diamond Devil Invite, where the Tigaers beat No. 17 San Diego State 4-1. However, in conference play the Tigers hadve not had much success, winning only one series at home against UC Davis. Junior Chelsea Engle leads the pitching staff with a 2.50 ERA and 15 wins, while Casey Goldsand is the team's top hitter, the only batter hitting over .300 at .352 on the year.
Long Beach State vs. the Tigers
In another lengthy series, the 49ers hold a 56-23 all-time edge over Pacific, dating back to 1985. The 49ers lost the first meeting between the teams, but have taken the series between the teams for the last five years, including a sweep in 2004, and winning two games last year behind Bridgette Pagano, including a 1-0 win in the opener on the road in Stockton.
Senior Spotlight
The Beach bids farewell to four seniors who have spent their entire careers with the 49ers this weekend. Shortstop Jessica Beaver, Outfielders Franciska Morlet and Lacy Tyler along with Catcher Brooke LeSage will all be playing in their final regular-season home series this weekend. Beaver, the 49ers all-time RBI leader will be trying to track down two other records in home runs and doubles, while the other will also be making their marks on the record books as well. All four are expected to start this weekend, particularly on Saturday as the 49ers honor all four seniors prior to the 1 p.m. start.
Fullerton Troubles
Long Beach State's three-game tilt with the Cal State Fullerton last weekend was a battle for all three games, as the Titans were able to come away handing the 49ers their first series loss of the year. Long Beach State rallied in game one behind Brooke Turner, tying the game in the fifth inning 1-1 and holding on in the eighth for a 3-2 win in game one. Game two was also very close, as Bridgette Pagano pitched six scoreless innings to hang on to a 1-0 lead, but a two-out rally for the Titans allowed Fullerton to grab a walk-off 2-1 win. Jessica Doucette then closed out the 49ers on Sunday with a 3-hit shutout in a 3-0 win.
In The Ranks
After the two losses to the Titans, the 49ers fell slightly in the polls this past week. Their high is now No. 16 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, and they stand at No. 19 in the NFCA poll with one week to play prior to the start of NCAA postseason play.
Terrific Turner
One of the bright spots for Long Beach State in 2008 has been the play of pitcher Brooke Turner. The sister of Michelle Turner, a former 49er and Big West Pitcher of the Year, Brooke has wasted no time rewriting the 49er record books. This past weekend Turner added 7 Ks in a win over Cal State Fullerton, giving her 211 on the season to continue to add to the Long Beach State single-season mark. In her first start against San Diego, Turner set a school record with 15 strikeouts, and topped that record against No. 5 Florida, giving the 19-0 Gators their first loss with 16 punchouts. Named the National Player of the Week on March 4, Turner has been named the Big West Pitcher of the Week seven times this season, tying the conference record.
Cleanin Up
Third baseman Jennifer Griffin has been one of the most consistent hitters of late for Long Beach State, and has anchored the middle of the lineup. The team's leading hitter with a .331 season batting average, she's batting .432 in conference play with three home runs and three doubles. She was recognized for her play against UCSB with the Big West Player of the Week award, and has yet to commit an error in conference action. She has also tied the 49ers single-season walk record, and is just two doubles away from setting the doubles record as well.
The Record Books
Senior Jessica Beaver's attack a number of records highlights the career accomplishments for a group of seniors that are climbing up the career lists. This year, Beaver became the all-time leader in RBI with 112, and also hit her 21st home run of her career, closing in on the top spot there as well. Beaver also ranks in the top ten in stolen bases, doubles, and runs scored in what has been an impressive four-year career. Lacy Tyler joins Beaver in the doubles list along with joining Brooke LeSage in the top 10 in walks. Rounding out the list, Brooke Turner set the school's single-season record in strikeouts last week, and is tied for the season record in shutouts with 15.
This And That
With their two losses last week, the 49ers have lost two games in a row for just the second time this season ... the first came during the first week of the season, where the team fell 1-0 to No. 17 Stanford prior to a 5-3 loss to Central Florida ... Long Beach State can clinch a trip to the regionals with just one win this weekend ... the 49ers will also grab their first outright championship since 2005 with any combination of two wins or Santa Barbara losses.
