Long Beach State University
LMU
49er softball starts season with comeback win over LMU
2/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 12, 2011
Long Beach, Calif. - Long Beach State's Liz Javier was 2-for-3 in the season opener, leading Long Beach State to a 5-3 win over the visiting LMU lions.
Long Beach State jumped on the board early, scoring a quick run in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff batter Megan Denio walked to open the game, and after an error and another walk loaded the bases for the 49ers, LMU turned to its second pitcher in Molly Medeiros. Medeiros was able to induce a double play, but Denio scored to put Long Beach State ahead 1-0.
The 49ers added another run in the bottom of the third following an RBI double by Hannah De Gaetano, scoring Jennifer Madigan after the shortstop hit a leadoff single. The 49ers came close to blowing the game open on a long Christina Schallig fly ball, but LMU center-fielder Danielle Smith brought the ball back from over the wall for the final out of the inning.
The Lions would come back to take the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Smith singled to put the first hitter of the inning on base, and after a sacrifice and an intentional walk, Kelly Sarginson homered to put LMU on top 3-2.
Denio singled with one out to start a rally in the fifth inning for Long Beach State. After a stolen base by Denio, Caitrin DeBaun walked, and a double by Schallig tied the game at 3-3. Javier followed with her second hit of the game, a key single that scored both DeBaun and Schallig as the 49ers moved ahead 5-3.
Taylor Petty finished the rest of the game for the 49ers, holding the Lions scoreless the rest of the way as she picked up her first win of the season. Petty finished with seven innings pitched and 10 strikeouts while allowing six hits.
Long Beach State has one game later today, playing Boise State in a contest that begins at 1:15 p.m.
