Long Beach State University
Colorado State
49ers drop two on first day of USD Tournament
2/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 20, 2009
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Long Beach State softball team (4-7) came away empty-handed on the first day of the USD Tournament, falling to Colorado State, 1-0, and Boise State, 5-3, on Friday afternoon.
The 49ers struggled to get their offense going in the first game as they were shut out by CSU. Despite tossing seven strong innings, sophomore Brooke Turner (3-3) was credited with the loss as she allowed one run on six hits, while striking out four. Kelli Eubanks picked up the win for the Rams.
Senior Jennifer Griffin went 2-for-3, while classmates Danielle Linke and Brianna Goad, and junior Ashley Weber also connected for a hit in the loss.
The Beach threatened in the bottom of the first with Linke drawing a leadoff walk before Weber singled to left field. With one out, junior Brandy Reyes was hit by the pitch to load the bases, but LBSU was unable to produce a run as Eubanks retired the next two batters to end the inning.
Colorado State (6-5) scored the lone run of the game in the top of the second. Ashley MacQueen started things off with an infield single and advanced to second on a ground out by Kayla Kreutzman. Caitlan Stem then knocked out one of her three hits on the day, scoring MacQueen.
Long Beach State had another good chance to get on the board in the sixth inning when it had runners on second and third with one out, but once again, Eubanks was able to get out of the jam as she got both Kristen Pocock and Jodi Nakawatase to fly out.
In the second game, the 49ers struck first, but it was Boise State (3-2) who used a five-run third inning to top The Beach, 5-3.
Junior Bridgette Pagano fell to 0-3 on the season after giving up five runs on six hits and two walks. The 49ers also committed two errors. Freshman Taylor Petty kept LBSU in the game, tossing 3.0 scoreless and hitless innings of relief. Petty finished the day with five strikeouts.
Senior Jonae Perez led the attack on the offensive end with a pair of hits and an RBI. Pocock added an RBI double, while Griffin also drove in a run.
Long Beach State went up 1-0 in the first inning when Linke came around to score on a ground ball by Griffin. That lead lasted until the Broncos put up five runs in the third. Boise State's big inning was highlighted by a two-out, two-run triple from Kelly Sweeney.
The 49ers scored two more in the fourth when Pocock doubled to plate Pagano, who had reached base on a fielders choice. Perez then singled to center field to bring Pocock home.
The Beach will continue action at the USD Tournament tomorrow with a pair of games. LBSU will battle host San Diego at 10 a.m., before returning to the field for a rematch with Boise State at 4:30 p.m.
