Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
Purdue
Fourth-inning rally lifts The Beach to 8-4 win over Purdue
3/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 12, 2010
LAKEWOOD, Calif. - The 49er softball team (7-11) used a big fourth inning to run away with an 8-4 win over Purdue in its first game of the Long Beach State Invitational at Mayfair Park Friday evening.
Sophomore Taylor Petty (3-8) earned the victory, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks. She also tied her season high with eight strikeouts.
Senior Bridgette Pagano sparked the 49er offense with a two-run double, while junior Liz Javier and senior Ashley Weber both went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
Purdue (6-10) struck in the second inning with a solo home run off the bat of Shelby Krammer. The Boilermakers tacked on one more in the fourth when Ashley Courtney scored on an error by 49er shortstop Ashley Levine.
The Beach responded in the bottom half of the inning, erupting for eight runs on six hits. Javier started the rally with an infield single. Christina Schallig then reached on an error before Caitrin DeBaun sent a shot up the middle to load the bases. Kristen Pocock was hit by the pitch and Levine drew a walk to tie the score at 2-2. Pagano then put the 49ers on top with a two-run double before Weber, Javier and Schallig each had an RBI single to give LBSU a commanding 8-2 lead.
Purdue threatened in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs on a one-out double by Erika Petruzzi, but Petty was able to get the last two Boilermakers to fly out for the 8-4 win.
Long Beach State returns to action on Saturday when it takes on Notre Dame (6 p.m.) and Buffalo (8 p.m.) at Mayfair Park.
