Long Beach State University
Northwestern
Softball Falls To Northwestern In Vegas Finale
2/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Las Vegas, Nev. - Lauren Lombardi hit a two-run home run to get the 49ers back into the game, but Long Beach State was unable to come back from a 5-0 deficit, falling 5-2 against Northwestern in the final game of the Easton Desert Classic for the Beach.
Northwestern (3-6) took the first lead in the second inning. Andrea Filler and Julia Kuhn led off the inning with two straight singles. After getting moved over to second and third, a bunt brought home one run, and then a third hit of the inning from Brooke Marquez gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
Amanda Hansen, the Long Beach State (6-4) starter, settled down for two quick innings in the third and fourth, but ran into trouble again in the fifth.
Krista Williams singled to start the inning, followed by an Andrea Di Prima home run which doubled the Northwestern lead. Marquez then hit a solo homer to give the Wildcats a 5-0 lead.
In the sixth, Long Beach State got on the board as Christina Montoya led off the inning with a walk, and after a fielder's choice, Lauren Lombardi homered to center field to pull the Beach within three runs.
Kristen Wood would hold on for the complete game win for Northwestern, holding off the Beach in the seventh inning despite a second hit of the day from Hannah Cookson.
Long Beach State continues tournament play next week, participating in one of the largest tournaments of the season, the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic out in Cathedral City next weekend.
