Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State Starts Series With Cal State Fullerton Saturday
4/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Long Beach, Calif. -
Complete Long Beach State Game Notes 
LEADING OFF
• Long Beach State sits in a three-way tie for second place in the Big West, and can make up some big ground as the team returns to the LBSU campus for a series against rival Cal State Fullerton. The Beach will host one game on Saturday, April 18, before holding a doubleheader next Wednesday that will be shown on ESPNU.
• In terms of the Big West, both the Beach and Cal State Fullerton enter Saturday's game tied for second place in the Big West with Hawai'i, and will need at least a series win to keep within reach of league leaders CSUN in the rivalry series.
Shayna Kimbrough
• Senior Shayna Kimbrough is one of the unquestioned leaders of the 49ers this season. A two-time first-team All-Big West selection, Kimbrough was the 2013 Big West Player of the Year, and won another major award in 2014 as the shortstop was named the Big West Defensive Player of the Year. Kimbrough is picking right back up where she left off, leading LBSU with a .374 batting average, 46 hits and six stolen bases.
• Kimbrough is within reach of three major career records. The LBSU leadoff hitter will set the school runs record the next time she scores, and is 19 hits away from setting the school's hits record as well. Her career batting average of .353 is also the best in Long Beach State history, outpacing the .324 of Jennifer Griffin, who is the 49er record-holder.
• Shayna Kimbrough's stolen base total has also moved the junior into the Top 10 in school history, where she currently ranks sixth. Kimbrough is over halfway to the all-time career leader, current LBSU head coach Kim Sowder, who stole 50 bases as an All-American at Long Beach State.
PLAYER NOTES
• Long Beach State's own sister act of Lauren and Julia Lombardi has been a highlight of the 2015 season. Through 40 games, the pair has combined for 80 hits, 37 runs scored, 15 home runs, 26 walks and 63 RBI. The pair are also second and third this season in hitting, with Lauren hitting .336 and Julia hitting .328. Together, the pair accounts for over half of the team's home runs and 37 percent of the team's RBI.
• Sophomore Christina Clermont has been Long Beach State's most consistent pitcher in 2015, ranking in the Big West's top five pitchers in ERA, opponent batting average and strikeouts in 129.2 innings pitched. Clermont has thrown two complete game shutouts in Big West play, and has won all five games this season in league for the Beach.
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
• Junior Darian Tautalafua's solo shot against New Mexico State set a new home run record at Long Beach State, as Tautalafua passed Nalani St. Germain with the 31st home run of her career. Tautalafua is also within reach of the LBSU RBI record, having driven in 109 RBI, 4th in school history behind Jessica Beaver, Nalani St. Germain and Jessica Smith.
• Sophomore Christina Clermont also grabbed her piece of history in the same game against New Mexico State. Striking out 10 batters, Clermont threw the 8th perfect game in Long Beach State history, setting down 15 in order in the 9-0 five-inning victory. The perfecto also marked the 24th no-hitter in school history. Clermont joined Mary Letourneau (2), Sandy Winchester, Ruby Flores, Meredith Cervenka, Lindsey Knoff, and Michelle Turner as 49ers to pitch a perfect game.
OPPONENT PREVIEW
• Cal State Fullerton is far and away the best offensive club in the Big West so far this season, with a team batting average of .332 and nine home runs in conference play, both best in the league. That has been balanced by a 4.20 ERA, while the 49ers have been the opposite, hitting .255 as a team in Big West action while holding opponents to a 2.17 ERA, second in the league.
• Missy Taukeiaho leads the Titans this season, slugging .771 while walking 26 times, reaching base at a .517 clip, best in the Big West. The junior is only third on the team in batting however, as Samantha Vandiver and Courtney Rodriguez join Taukeiaho in batting over .400 this season. Vandiver is hitting an unreal .468, while Rodriguez is hitting .421 and Taukeiaho is hitting .404 in 2015.
THIS AND THAT
• Long Beach State will have five games televised during the 2015 campaign, which is slightly down from the program record 12 in 2014. The Beach will see their doubleheader with Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday, April 22 on ESPNU, and the Cal Poly opener on May 2 will also be shown live on ESPNU. The 49ers will also have two games shown on ESPN3, as the doubleheader on May 8 will be shown live on ESPN3.
• Long Beach State picked up its first win over a ranked opponent this season, defeating No. 12 UCLA 5-4 on Feb. 27. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Bruins, dating back to the 2009 season.
