Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
Auburn
Extra Inning Woes Continue As Softball Falls To No. 14 Auburn In Eight Innings
3/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Fullerton, Calif. - Long Beach State put together six impressive innings against another Top 15 opponent, but Auburn got the last laugh, ultimately defeating the 49ers in eight innings 8-7. Darian Tautalafua tied the Long Beach State career home run record of 30 in the loss.
Long Beach State (10-13) commanded the action for most of the day after jumping out to an early lead. Shayna Kimbrough kicked off the game with a double, and after a single from LT Torres, Lauren Lombardi cracked her second home run of the day, this one a three-run shot to lift the 49ers to a 3-0 lead over No. 14 Auburn (22-1).
The Beach tacked on two more runs in the third, as Torres walked and again the 49ers went yard. This time, the hitter was Tautalafua, who sent a pitch over the center field fence to tie Nalani St. Germain for the 49er career record of 30 home runs. The homer was also the fourth of the season for the junior.
Jade Rhodes hit a solo home run in the fifth, but that was all of the offense for the Tigers through six innings as Christina Clermont was in total command.
The sophomore ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh, however, as a leadoff walk followed by a double led to a run, and then the Tigers pulled to within one run of Long Beach State 5-4 on a two-run home run by Emily Carosone. A solo home run off of Christian Carbajal by Branndi Melero then tied the game, sending the contest into extra innings.
With the international tiebreaker in effect, two hits from the Beach led to a pair of runs in the top half of the eighth, as Haley Tobler doubled to bring home the first runner, while a single by Julia Lombardi scored Tobler to put Long Beach State back on top 7-5.
Christian Carbajal surrendered a double to start the bottom of eighth, scoring one run, and then three straight singles by Auburn hitters pushed two more runners across, ending the game in favor of the Tigers 8-7.
Long Beach State will take Friday off, and then returns to action on Saturday at the Judy Garman Classic in Fullerton. The Beach will take on another ranked opponent in No. 13 Arizona at 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, before closing out the tournament with a doubleheader Sunday beginning at 11:30 a.m.
