Long Beach State University
Pacific
Softball Seals 18th NCAA Trip
5/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 9, 2008
Long Beach, Calif. - Long Beach State earned its 18th trip to the NCAA Regionals Friday with a 5-0 win over Pacific in game two of a doubleheader. Long Beach State scored five runs in the fourth and relied on a dominant pitching performance from Brooke Turner to take the win, after rallying but falling late 4-3 in nine innings during the opener.
Long Beach State opened the first game by taking the lead. Brianna Goad led off the third inning with a walk, and Jessica Beaver was hit by a pitch to put two runners on for the Beach. Franciska Morlet continued the inning with an infield single, and an overthrow brought home the first run of the inning. Beaver would then score off an RBI single by Jennifer Griffin to give the 49ers a 2-0 lead.
Pacific would answer back with two runs in the fourth, capitalizing on a Lacy Tyler error, and then take the lead in the fifth inning on a Kellee Wilson sacrifice fly. Long Beach State rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh after a leadoff double from Jonae Perez, but a ninth-inning score by the Tigers would prove to be the difference.
After making six errors in the opening game, the 49ers regrouped for a solid effort in game two, as Brooke Turner went the distance on the way to a school-record 16th shutout. Making no errors, the 49er defense was solid behind Turner, who made eight strikeouts of her own to get her 25th win of the year.
Long Beach State's offense came in the fourth inning, taking advantage of some wildness from Chelsea Engle, who had started the game with three innings of no-hit ball. Ashley Weber started the inning with an infield single, and Lacy Tyler continued a one-out rally by poking a ball just past shortstop Nicole Matson. Jonae Perez reached on an error to load the bases, and Engle would put the next two batters on with a walk and a bean ball to keep the bases loaded with a 2-0 score. Beaver then added a two-run double, and Morlet drove home the final run with a single as the 49ers batted around in the inning and providing Turner with all the cushion she would need.
Long Beach State concludes the regular season with one final game against Pacific tomorrow at 1 p.m., with a Senior Recognition ceremony prior to the game. Postseason news will come on Sunday at 7 p.m., as the entire field is announced on ESPNU.
