Long Beach State University
UCLA
Softball Defeats No. 12 UCLA 5-4 Behind Tautalafua, Lombardi
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Lakewood, Calif. - Darian Tautalafua reached base four times, walking twice and going 2-for-2 including an RBI double as Long Beach State defeated No. 12 UCLA 5-4 Friday night. Lauren Lombardi also got in on the action, hitting a two-run double to give the 49ers the lead for good.
The Beach got off to a quick start, scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Shayna Kimbrough reached on an error to start the inning, and Haley Tobler singled to put two runners on. Long Beach State (9-8) took the first lead of the game as Johanna Grauer walked both Lombardi and Tautalafua to bring home a run.
Errors helped the Beach add another run against UCLA (14-5) in the third. After a leadoff walk to Tobler, the junior reached second on an error, and then Tautalafua doubled to put Long Beach State in front 2-0.
UCLA used the long ball to come back in the fourth. After Christina Clermont walked the first batter of the inning, Stephany LaRosa homered to tie the game at two. Amanda Hansen came on in relief for the 49ers, and surrendered a solo shot to right field from Brittany Moeai as the Bruins took a 3-2 lead.
The 49ers bounced back with a two-out rally in the bottom half however. LT Torres drew a walk against Ally Carda, and Carda then walked Tobler to put two on. Lombardi then made the Bruins pay with a double, scoring both runs as the Beach regained the lead.
Long Beach State scored an important insurance run in the sixth. Torres led off the inning with a single, and then after a Tautalafua single moved the freshman into scoring position, Julia Lombardi singled to push the 49er lead to 5-3.
UCLA threatened in the top half of the seventh inning, as Amanda Hansen picked up the first out of the inning, but walked Mysha Sataraka. An error in left field on a ball hit by Allexis Bennett allowed pinch runner Robyn Corruth to score an push Bennett to third, but a fly out by Kylee Perez closed out the game in favor of the 49ers.
Long Beach State returns to Mayfair Park for a pair of games Saturday, hosting Stanford at 11:30 a.m. and Weber State at 4:30 p.m.
