Long Beach State University
Cal Poly
49ers fall 5-4 in eight innings at Cal Poly
4/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 23, 2011
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Long Beach State built a pair of two-run leads but Cal Poly answered both times eventually handing the 49ers a 5-4 Big West Conference loss in eight innings on Saturday. LBSU won the series after sweeping both games of a doubleheader on Friday.
The Mustangs scored the winning run in the eighth inning without the benefit of a hit. Nicole Lund led off the inning with a walk and eventually came around to score the winning run thanks to two 49er errors, the final one with two outs.
The 49ers (30-14, 8-4 Big West) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on back-to-back RBI doubles by Sarah Carrasco and Liz Javier. The Mustangs (7-31, 3-9 Big West) answered with two runs in their half of the inning on a Stephanie Correia two-RBI double by Stephanie.
Long Beach State regained the lead with two runs in the top of the sixth. Javier picked up her second RBI of the day with a single to center, and then she came around to score on a double by Christina Schallig. Cal Poly responded with a pair of runs in its half of the inning. Mustang pitcher Rebecca Patton helped her cause hitting a two-run home run to tie the game, 4-4.
The 49ers threatened in the top of the eighth inning. Carrasco led off the inning with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Brooke Bell who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Javier. Schallig followed with a single to center but Bell was thrown out at home trying to score.
Freshman Erin Jones-Wesley (16-5) took the loss in relief after entering the game to start the eighth inning. Senior Brooke Turner got the start and allowed four runs on six hits in six innings while striking out eight. Carrasco, Javier and Schallig all went 2-for-3 to lead Long Beach State, while Hannah De Gaetano was 2-for-4. Patton (5-16) got the win for the Mustangs going the distance while giving up four runs on nine hits.
Long Beach State returns home next weekend for a three-game series against UC Santa Barbara. The 49ers and Gauchos will play a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. Action both days starts at 1 p.m. at the 49er Softball Complex.
