Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
Southern Utah
Beach Closes Louisville Slugger Invitational With 3-1 Win Over Southern Utah
3/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Long Beach, Calif. - Christina Montoya hit a pair of singles and scored each time, plating two of Long Beach State's three runs a in a 3-1 win over Southern Utah Sunday. Darian Tautalafua also added a solo home run to account for the final run of the day.
Long Beach State (10-10) took the first lead of the game in the third inning. Montoya singled to start the rally, stole second, and went to third on a single from Leilani Tupua-Tautalatasi. After an infield single from Shayna Kimbrough loaded the bases, the 49ers scored the first run of the game on an RBI groundout from LT Torres.
Southern Utah (3-12) answered back in the third inning, as Christian Carbajal, who had dodged trouble through the first three innings walked two batters and hit a third to load the bases.
Christina Clermont entered in relief, and despite walking one to bring home a run, picked up two outs to get out of the bases-loaded jam and keep the game tied at 1-1.
Clermont would cruise the rest of the way, giving up just one hit in 3.2 scoreless innings, leaving it up to the offense to come through for Long Beach State.
Montoya was once again the catalyst for the 49ers, hitting another single, and after being pushed to second on a sacrifice, scoring on an RBI single by Kimbrough.
The Beach added an insurance run in the sixth, as Tautalafua hit a solo shot over the wall in left, her third home run of the season. The homer also puts the junior one blast away from tying Nalani St. Germain's career record of 30 home runs at Long Beach State.
Long Beach State returns to the 49er Softball Complex Wednesday, when the Beach will host No. 1 Florida at 2 p.m.
