Long Beach State University
DePaul
49ers hand DePaul 2-1 defeat in Fullerton Tournament
3/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 18, 2011
FULLERTON, Calif. - Long Beach State scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to rally to beat DePaul 2-1 in the 49ers' first game at the Judi Garman Tournament on Friday night.
DePaul (15-6) scored in the top of the first inning with three hits, but with some help from the 49ers defense as well. Alex Morraco opened the inning with a double to deep centerfield. She moved to third on a hit by Sean Plese where she attempted to sacrifice bunt but nobody covered first for the 49ers making it a hit. Marraco came around to score when Plese stole second and the throw from catcher Karli Sandoval rolled into center when nobody covered second. It could have got worse for the 49ers. DePaul had runners on first and third with no one out, but Erin Jones-Wesley got the next three hitters without giving up another run.
Long Beach State threatened in both the bottom of the first and bottom of the third innings. Megan Denio reached second with one out in the first inning on a walk and a sacrifice bunt by Hannah De Gaetano, but Denio was stranded when Caitrin DeBaun and Heather Carrasco both grounded out.
In the third inning, Jones-Wesley and Denio had back-to-back singles and moved to second and third on another sacrifice bunt by De Gaetano. The runners were stranded after DeBaun grounded out to the pitcher and Carrasco struck out.
DePaul looked to add to its lead in the top of the fourth inning. The Blue Demons loaded the bases with one out on a hit batter and a pair of Long Beach State errors, but Jones-Wesley got Morocco to line out to Liz Javier at third and then struck out pinch hitter Katelyn Braget to end the inning.
Long Beach State (17-9) finally got to DePaul pitcher Lindsey Dean in the bottom of the fourth inning with Javier and Jones-Wesley delivering RBI hits. Nalani St. Germain led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a wild pitch and passed ball before Javier drilled a double to right center to score St. Germaine to tie the game. After an infield single by Christina Schallig and a pop out by Karli Sandoval, Jones-Wesley drove in the go-ahead run with a single over first baseman Megan Coronado's head to give the 49ers a 2-1 lead.
DePaul threatened again in the top of the seventh loading the bases with two outs. Taylor Petty, who came in relief of Jones-Wesley after she allowed a leadoff single in the seventh, got Brittney Yniguez to ground back to Petty who threw her out at first to pick up her first save of the season. Jones-Wesley picked up the win to move to 8-3 on the season.
