Long Beach State University Athletics
Softball Starts Busy Week With Rivalry DH On ESPNU
4/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Long Beach, Calif. -
Complete Long Beach State Game Notes 
LEADING OFF
• Long Beach State faces a critical week, one of the busiest of the year with five games on the slate. The Beach kicks off the week with national exposure, hosting Cal State Fullerton for a double-header on ESPNU on Wednesday at 1 p.m. as the rivalry series continues.
• After Wednesday's games, Long Beach State hosts CSUN for a three-game series as the league-leading Matadors visit the 49er Softball Complex. With the Beach standing in second place behind CSUN, Long Beach State can make up some important ground against the Matadors with the season winding into its final weeks.
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 18 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 41 games, the pair has combined for 82 hits, 39 runs scored, 16 home runs, 26 walks and 67 RBI. The pair are also second and third this season in hitting, with Lauren hitting .344 and Julia hitting .320. Together, the pair accounts for half of the team's home runs and 39 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 136.2 innings pitched. Clermont has thrown two complete game shutouts in Big West play, and has won all six games this season in league for the Beach.
WHAT'S THE SCORE
• All games for the remainder of the season can be followed via Gametracker at www.longbeachstate.com, the home of Long Beach State athletics.
OPPONENT PREVIEW
• The first meeting between the two teams knocked CS Fullerton to second place in the Big West in hitting. On the year, the Titans are batting .308 overall, and are tops in conference play with a .318 batting average. On the flip side, the Titans have struggled in the circle, and are allowing teams to hit .302 with a 4.34 ERA in Big West play, eighth in each category.
• 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 .469 while Rodriguez is hitting .414 and Taukeiaho is hitting .404 in 2015.
