Long Beach State University Athletics
LBSU entertains CS Northridge in Big West series
4/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 1, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
LONG BEACH - Long Beach State continues Big West action this weekend as it welcomes conference-leading Cal State Northridge to the 49er Softball Complex for a three-game series. The two teams will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m., before meeting again in the series finale on Sunday (1 p.m.).
THE SERIES
Long Beach State leads in its all-time series with Cal State Northridge by a 44-39 count. The 49ers picked up a 2-1 season series victory last year at Matador Diamond, winning the opener, 2-1, before falling in the second contest of the doubleheader, 9-1. The Beach then won the rubber game by another 1-0 score. LBSU is 14-1 in its last 15 meetings with CSUN and has not lost a season series since 2002.
SCOUTING THE MATADORS
Cal State Northridge extended its current winning streak to 11 games after sweeping Pacific at home last weekend. Also in that span, the Matadors have racked up impressive victories over Texas, Oklahoma State, San Diego State and Iowa State. On the season, Christina Saenz leads CSUN with a .381 batting average, while Jaclyn Rymer is not far behind at .367 with a team-best 33 hits. Micah Putnam, meanwhile, is tops on the squad in RBI (24) and home runs (2).
Deborah Duran has been the Matadors' ace on the mound with a 16-5 record and two saves. Duran currently ranks fourth in the Big West with a 1.53 ERA, while also compiling 62 strikeouts.
AMONG THE NCAA LEADERS
Several 49ers rank among the NCAA leaders through games of March 29. Junior Ashley Weber is tops in the nation with 0.51 sacrifice hits per game, while senior Jennifer Griffin is 16th in walks per outing (0.80/game). On the defensive end, sophomore Brooke Turner sits at No. 27 with five shutouts and freshman Taylor Petty has the 30th-lowest ERA in all of NCAA Division I at 1.27. As a team, The Beach also ranks among the top 40 with a .970 fielding percentage.
HOME RUN DERBY
After going deep four times in a three-game series at Arizona State, the 2009 Long Beach State squad tied the third-highest single-season home run mark in school history at 20. With 18 regular season games remaining, The Beach has already surpassed the home run total from each of the last three years. The 49er record currently stands at 39, which was established in 2005.
GRIFFIN GOES DEEP
Senior Jennifer Griffin has powered the 49er offense with a team-best eight home runs and 29 RBI. Last weekend, Griffin doubled home the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the 49ers to a 4-3 win over UC Davis. The Whittier, Calif., native also leads the squad in batting average (.330), slugging percentage (.650), on base percentage (.477), walks (28) and runs scored (27). Griffin's eight home runs currently ties her for fifth on the 49er single-season charts.
LINKE TAKES THE LEAD
Senior Danielle Linke (Whittier, Calif.) has taken over the leadoff spot in the lineup and has not disappointed as she is tops on the team with 37 hits. She also ranks second with a .327 batting average, 19 RBI, eight doubles and five home runs. On the season, she has posted 11 multiple-hit games with a perfect 4-for-4 performance against Liberty (Feb. 7).
WEBER GETS THE JOB DONE
Junior Ashley Weber has been a consistent No. 2 hitter as she has already tied former All-American and current 49er head coach Kim Sowder on the single-season charts with 19 sacrifice hits. That number, which is more than half of LBSU's total sac hits, puts Weber at the top of the Big West leaderboard. The Yorba Linda, Calif., native is also third on the team with a .324 batting average.
PETTY SHINES
Freshman Taylor Petty (San Pedro, Calif.) has quickly earned her spot as a regular starter for the 49ers as she has posted a 9-3 record and ranks third in the Big West with a 1.27 earned run average. Petty, who recorded three complete-game shutouts in her first four collegiate starts, has compiled 81 strikeouts in 93.1 innings.
TURNER ON POINT
Sophomore pitcher Brooke Turner is tops on the team and is tied for third in the conference with 11 victories. Turner recently picked up her 22nd career shutout to move into sole possession of eighth place on the all-time 49er charts. The Buena Park, Calif., native also ranks fifth with 330 career strikeouts. In addition, Turner has defeated a pair of ranked teams in UCLA and Fresno State, holding both squads to just two hits.
UP NEXT
Long Beach State will head north for its first conference road series at Cal Poly, April 10-11. The 49ers and Mustangs open with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday.
