Long Beach State University
Sacramento State
49ers split a pair of games at Fresno State Tournament
2/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 10, 2012
FRESNO, Calif. - Long Beach State opened the 2012 softball season splitting a pair of games at the Fresno State Tournament on Friday. The 49ers (1-1) opened the season with a 4-2 win over Sacramento State before losing 4-2 to Toledo.
LBSU will get a chance for revenge against the Rockets when the two teams play again Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The 49ers also face North Dakota State at 6:45 p.m. Saturday night.
Game 1: Long Beach State 4, Sacramento State 2
Alisha Rosen sparked a three-run fifth-inning rally with a two-out, bases-loaded two-run double to lead the 49ers to a come from behind win over the Hornets in LBSU's first game of the tournament. Rosen double down the left field line, with the 49ers trailing 2-1, scoring freshman Leilani Tupua-Tautalatasi and Nalani St. Germain to give the 49ers the lead. Freshman Shayna Kimbrough followed with a RBI single scoring Karli Sandoval to give the 49ers some cushion.
Sophomore Erin Jones-Wesley picked up the win throwing a complete game, while matching a career-high with 11 strikeouts. The reigning Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year allowed two earned runs on seven hits.
Sacramento State (1-1) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Devin Caldwell doubled to drive in Paige Martin. LBSU answered with a run in the bottom of the third. Dana Garcia delivered a bases loaded single to left, scoring Megan Denio to tie the game, 1-1.
The Hornets regained the lead with a run in the top of the fifth when Caldwell scored on a sacrifice fly by Emily McCormick.
Sophomore Hannah De Gaetano led LBSU offensively going 2-for-3.
Game 2: Toledo 4, Long Beach State 2
Freshman Amanda Hansen pitched a complete game in her first collegiate start, but it wasn't quite enough as the 49ers dropped a 4-2 decision to Toledo. Hansen allowed just two earned runs, but the 49ers committed three errors which lead to two unearned runs for the Rockets.
The Rockets took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Jillian Spink got Toledo on the board with a RBI single scoring Courtney McCarthy. Spink came around to score on a base hit by Lindsey Tobias to make it 2-0. An unearned run in the top of the second pushed the lead to 3-0.
The 49ers rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Kimbrough picked up a run scoring single bringing Bree Stephan home to cut the lead to 3-1. Denio made it 3-2 when she scored on an error by the third baseman on a ball hit by St. Germain.
Toledo (1-2) added an unearned run in the top of the seventh inning to give the Rockets a 4-2 lead.
The 49ers managed just four hits off Rockets' pitcher Casi Rohr. Kimbrough, Stephan, Denio and Emily Gregorio all had hits for the 49ers.
