Long Beach State University Athletics
49ers open Tempe Regional against San Diego State Friday
5/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 18, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
ON THE TUBE: ESPNU will televise every game from the Tempe Regional. Cara Capuano will handle play-by-play duties, while Michelle Smith provides color commentary.
49ERS MAKE 20TH APPEARANCE IN NCAA REGIONALS; THIRD IN SOWDER ERA: Long Beach State is making its 20th appearance in an NCAA Tournament Regional, as well as the third in Kim Sowder's five years at the helm. LBSU has compiled a 23-32 all-time record in regional competition, while going 2-4 under Sowder. The 49ers last regional appearance came during the 2009 season when they played in the Los Angeles Regional, hosted by UCLA. LBSU has won five regionals, advancing to the College World Series each time with the last coming in 1993.
JONES-WESLEY CLAIMS BOTH BIG WEST CONFERENCE MAJOR PITCHING AWARDS: Freshman Erin Jones-Wesley has been named both the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year and the Big West Conference Freshman Pitcher of the Year marking just the second time in league history a player has won both awards. She becomes the second Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year in four years and the fourth Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year in five seasons for LBSU. Her freshman season has been nothing short of amazing as she leads the Big West in ERA (1.45) and wins (22), while ranking fifth in innings pitched (183.2), second in strikeouts (163), second in opposing batting average (.211) and second in runs allowed (48).
49ERS PLACE EIGHT PLAYERS ON ALL-BIG WEST TEAM, INCLUDING THREE ON FIRST-TEAM: Long Beach State placed eight players on the All-Big West Conference team, including three on the first-team, three on the second-team and two on the honorable mention team. Two freshmen first-teamers highlighted the honors for the 49ers with pitcher Erin Jones-Wesley and outfielder Hannah De Gaetano being named to the team along with senior third baseman Liz Javier, a two-time first-team winner. Jones-Wesley led the conference in both ERA and wins, while both De Gaetano and Javier ranked among the league leaders in a number of categories. Sophomore second baseman Nalani St. Germain, an honorable mention pick in 2010, is joined on the second-team by senior first baseman Christina Schallig and freshman designated player Sarah Carrasco. St. Germain led the 49ers in home runs and RBI, while Schallig finished second in both categories and Carrasco tied for the team lead in batting average. Pitchers Taylor Petty, a junior, and Brooke Turner, a senior, both were named to the honorable mention all-league team. JONES-WESLEY DOMINATED BIG WEST WEEKLY AWARDS: Erin Jones-Wesley finished the regular season as the most decorated pitcher in the league winning six of a possible 14 Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week honors during the season. No other pitcher in the Big West won more than two weekly awards. A total of nine different pitchers won at least one weekly honor thanks to three weeks where co-pitchers of the week were named.
Jones-Wesley didn't waste any time in winning her first pitcher of the week honor. She claimed the season's first honor after the first weekend of the season when she blanked Boise State 2-0 twice. Jones-Wesley won her second honor after the Cathedral City Classic Feb. 24-26 when she picked up a win over then-No. 6 Oklahoma. Her third player of the week came after the Judi Garman Tournament in Fullerton March 18-20 after she beat DePaul 2-1 and threw a one-hitter in a 1-0 win over Illinois. She was named co-pitcher of the week, her fourth award, after going 2-0 with a save in games against Ohio and Canisius on March 23-25. Her fifth POW was after picking up a pair of wins during a three-game sweep of UC Davis on April 16-17. Her sixth came on May 2 after she picked up all three wins over UC Santa Barbara in a crucial three-game series sweep. Ironically, Jones-Wesley has thrown a pair of no-hitters this season and didn't win the award either of those weeks.
JONES-WESLEY MOVES INTO SINGLE-SEASON TOP 10 IN FOUR LBSU CATEGORIES: Erin Jones-Wesley has moved into fifth in single-season strikeouts at Long Beach State with 163 strikeouts, passing Meredith Cervenka (2004) during the UC Riverside road trip. The freshman needs five more to pass Kristi Fox (2000) for fourth, 25 to pass Michelle Turner (2006) for third and 29 to pass Cervenka (2005) for second. Brooke Turner is the all-time leader with 237 strikeouts in 2008.
Jones-Wesley moved into a tie for seventh with Fox (1998) in single-season wins at LBSU with 22. She needs one more this weekend to tie Cervenka (2005) and Tammy Dietrich (1997) for fifth, and two more to tie Fox (2000) for fourth. Jones-Wesley has also moved into a tie for seventh with four other players for all-time shutouts with 11. She needs one this weekend to tie Sandy Winchester (1986) for sixth and two to tie Fox (1999) for fifth. Jones-Wesley cracked the top 10 in appearances last weekend at UC Riverside. She has 37 appearances and moved into a four-way tie for fifth. She needs two appearances in Tempe to pass Letourneau (1990) for fourth and four to pass Michelle Turner (2006) and Fox (2000) for second. Amy Miner (1995) holds the school record for appearances with 43 in a season.
JONES-WESLEY THROWS TWO NO-HITTERS: Erin Jones-Wesley threw the 21st no-hitter in Long Beach State history leading the 49ers to a 7-1 win over No. 21 Baylor on March 5. Jones-Wesley struck out six and walked two in seven innings, while giving up a run on a pair of fielding errors by the 49ers. The no-hitter was the first by a 49er since Bridgette Pagano tossed a no-hitter in a 7-0 win over Brown on March 27, 2007. It didn't take long for Jones-Wesley to make it two no-hitters in her career and 22 in school history. On March 13, Jones-Wesley threw a no-hitter while striking out a career-best 11 against Utah State in a 7-0 win. Jones-Wesley has also thrown two one-hitters this season, one against Illinois and one vs. UC Davis.
JONES-WESLEY'S TWO NO-HITTERS IN A SEASON IS ONE SHY OF SCHOOL RECORD: Erin Jones-Wesley's two no-hitters this season ties for the second most no-hitters in a single season at LBSU. Jones-Wesley has matched Sandy Winchester with two, one behind Meredith Cervenka's school record of three no-hitters in a season. Winchester was the first 49er to throw two no-hitters in the same season when she did it in 1986. Cervenka threw three no-hitters during the 2004 season.
JONES-WESLEY RANKS IN TIE FOR THIRD IN ALL-TIME NO-HITTERS AT LONG BEACH STATE: Erin Jones-Wesley has thrown two no-hitters in her short career at Long Beach State, but she already ranks in a tie for third in career no-hitters by a 49er. Jones-Wesley is tied with Lindsey Knoff (2001-04), Kristi Fox (1998-00), Stacy Van Essen (1991-94) and Diane Lewis (1885-86, 88-89) on the all-time list. Meredith Cervenka (2002-05) is the all-time leader with four no-hitters, while Sandy Winchester (1984-87) is second with three.
JONES-WESLEY'S 11 STRIKEOUTS AGAINST UTAH STATE RANKS NINTH ALL-TIME AT LBSU: Erin Jones-Wesley's 11 strikeouts against Utah State on March 13 is tied for the ninth most in school history. Jones-Wesley is one of 10 LBSU pitchers tied for ninth. Brooke Turner holds the school record with 16 strikeouts in a 2-1 win over Florida in 10 innings on Feb. 27, 2008. Turner is also second on the list with 15 strikeouts against San Diego on Feb. 9, 2008. Turner also ranks in a tie for third (13 strikeouts), a tie for fifth (12 strikeouts) and a tie with Jones-Wesley for ninth (three times) with 11 strikeouts. Taylor Petty also has struck out 11 batters twice during her career.
TURNER CLIMBING RECORD BOOKS: Senior Brooke Turner enters this week's games ranked among Long Beach State's career leaders in six pitching categories. The Buena Park product is second in strikeouts and wins. She needs 21 more strikeouts to pass Meredith Cervenka (2002-05) for the all-time lead. She moved into sole possession of second in wins passing Stacy Van Essen (1991-94) against UC Davis on April 16. She now has 67 and trails Cervenka by 11 for the all-time lead. Turner also ranks fifth in shutouts and appearances and is seventh in complete games and innings pitched.
TURNER WINS 14TH CAREER BIG WEST CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONOR: Senior Brooke Turner was named the Big West Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 7, marking the 14th time during her career she has won a POW award. Turner claimed the latest honor after going 3-0 at the Campbell/Cartier Tournament in San Diego, March 3-5. Turner finished the tournament with a 1.50 ERA and wins over BYU, No. 24 Houston and No. 23 Fresno State. Turner won a league record eight pitcher of the week honors during her freshman year, and added two as a sophomore and three as a junior.
PETTY RANKS AMONG ALL-TIME LEADERS IN TWO CAREER CATEGORIES, CLOSING IN ON OTHERS: Junior Taylor Petty is also among the school's all-time leaders in two categories and is closing in on the top 10 in a number of others. Petty heads into this week's games fifth in strikeouts and second in saves. She needs three strikeouts to pass Lindsey Knoff (2001-04) for fourth. Petty picked up the sixth save of her career against Cal State Fullerton on May 7 to move into a tie with Stacy Van Essen (1991-94) and Kristi Fox (1998-00) for second all-time. Mary Letourneau (1990-93) is the all-time leader with nine.
PETTY TIES LBSU SINGLE-SEASON RECORD FOR SAVES: Taylor Petty has four saves this season to tie Mary Letourneau (1990) for the single-season all-time lead. Petty's saves have come in a 2-1 win over DePaul (3/18), a 6-2 win over Cal State Northridge (4/10), a 3-1 win over UC Davis (4-17) and a 7-6 win vs. Cal State Fullerton (5/7).
ST. GERMAIN CLAIMS FIRST CAREER PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR: Second baseman Nalani St. Germain was named the Big West Conference Player of the Week after leading LBSU to a tournament championship at the Campbell/Cartier Tournament in San Diego on March 3-5. St. Germain hit .643 (9-for-14) with a home run and four RBI in the tournament.
ST. GERMAIN THIRD IN CAREER HOME RUNS AT LONG BEACH STATE: Sophomore Nalani St. Germain hit the 16th home run of her career against Cal State Fullerton (5/7), a crucial three-run blast to help LBSU rally to a win, moving her into a tie for third all-time with Jessica Smith (1992-02). She needs to hit five more to tie Jessica Beaver (2005-08) for second. Lauren Johnson (2002-05) is the all-time leader with 24.
ST. GERMAIN'S EIGHT HOME RUNS THIS SEASON RANKS FIFTH ALL-TIME AT LBSU: Nalani St. Germain hit her eighth home run of the season against Cal State Fullerton on May 7 allowing her to move into a tie for fifth all-time on the single season home run list at LBSU. She tied four other players on the list, including herself (2010). St. Germain needs one more home run to tie Marcel Torres (2005) for fourth and two more to tie Jessica Beaver (2007) for third.
SCHALLIG TIED FOR 10TH IN SINGLE-SEASON HOME RUNS AT LBSU: Senior Christina Schallig hit four home runs during Big West Conference action to run her season total to seven homers and in the process move into a tie with Colleen Burdick (2004) for 10th in a single season at LBSU. Schallig needs one more to jump into a tie for fifth, two more to tie for fourth and three more to jump all the way to third.
SCHALLIG AND DENIO TIE SCHOOL RECORD FOR RBI IN A GAME: It's been more than 11 years since Jessica Smith drove in a school-record six runs in a game twice in less than a month. Since that time, six players had put up five RBI in a game but nobody had been able to tie or break Smith's record. That changed earlier this year when, not one, but two Long Beach State players tied the record with six RBI in a game. Christina Schallig was the first to tie the record when she had a pair of 3-run home runs in LBSU's 13-5 win over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. One day later, Megan Denio joined Schallig and Jones as the only three players in school history with six RBI in a game. Denio did it in an 11-0 win over Arkansas, which she capped with a grand slam, her first career home run. Smith originally set the record with six RBI at UC Santa Barbara on April 10, 1999, and then she tied it less than a month later with six RBI vs. New Mexico State on May 2, 1999.
SCHALLIG TIES SCHOOL RECORD WITH TWO HOME RUNS IN A GAME: Not only did Christina Schallig tie the Long Beach State record with six RBI in the 49ers win over Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, but the LBSU first baseman also tied the school record with two home runs in a game. Schallig became the 14th 49er to hit two homers in a game, and the first since Michelle Turner hit a pair of bombs against South Florida on March 5, 2006.
DENIO MOVES INTO TOP 10 IN SINGLE-SEASON WALKS AT LBSU: Megan Denio has drawn 26 walks this season to move into a three-way tie for seventh all-time in single-season walks at LBSU. She needs just five more to jump all the way up to a tie for third.
DENIO EARNS FIRST CAREER BIG WEST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD: Junior outfielder Megan Denio earned her first Big West Conference Player of the Week honor after an impressive weekend at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas on Feb. 18-20. Denio hit .467 with her first career home run, six RBI and a stolen base in LBSU's five games.
CARRASCO NAMED BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Freshman Sarah Carrasco was named the Big West Conference Player of the Week after leading Long Beach State to a 2-1 record at Cal Poly on April 22-23. Carrasco hit .600 against the Mustangs going 6-for-10 at the plate with a .900 slugging percentage. She had three doubles in the series, including one in the top of the seventh inning that led to the winning run in a 3-2 decision in the series opener. She opened the series going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a RBI and a run scored in the 3-2 win. Carrasco followed in the second game of the doubleheader with a 1-for-3 effort with two RBI and a run scored in a 7-1 win. In Saturday's 5-4 eight-inning loss, Carrasco went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored.
DE GAETANO SPARKING 49ER OFFENSE SINCE MOVING INTO LEADOFF SPOT: Long Beach State coach Kim Sowder moved freshman Hannah De Gaetano to the leadoff spot for the final game of the Cal State Northridge series on April 10 and she has sparked the 49ers offense to another level ever since. Before moving into the leadoff spot, De Gaetano was hitting just .211 with a .298 slugging percentage. In the 16 games since the move to leadoff, the freshman left fielder is hitting .441 with a .593 slugging percentage. She has hits in 15 of the 16 games, and has multiple hits in eight of those games including a 4-for-4 effort with three RBI against UC Davis on April 16. De Gaetano's move to leadoff has also sparked the 49ers' offense. As a team, LBSU is hitting .045 points higher than it was before she was inserted in the leadoff spot. The 49ers are hitting .312 as a team over the last 16 games, while hitting .267 in the first 37 games. LBSU is 13-3 in the last 16 games.
UNDERCLASSMEN MAKING BIG IMPACT ON 49ERS OFFENSE AND PITCHING STAFF: Freshmen and sophomores are playing a huge role in Long Beach State's success on the field this season. Seven of the 49ers' top 10 hitters are either freshmen or sophomores (and that doesn't count Erin Jones-Wesley who is hitting .364 in 11 games), with underclassmen leading the team in batting average, at-bats, runs, hits, home runs, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage, hit-by-pitch, on-base percentage, sacrifice flies, sacrifice bunts, and stolen bases. On the mound, freshmen lead the 49ers in ERA, wins, appearances, starts, complete games, innings pitched, shutouts and strikeouts.
