Long Beach State University
California
Softball Drops A Pair To Close Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
2/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (California) | Box Score (Michigan)
Palm Springs, Calif. - Facing two ranked opponents on Sunday, Long Beach State dropped both games, falling to No. 25 Cal 7-2 before losing to No. 2 Michigan 10-7. Sophomore LT Torres had a pair of hits in each game, including a homer against Cal.
Cal (9-4) got on the board first, scoring a trio of runs after Long Beach State (8-6) went down in order in the top half of the first inning. A leadoff walk from the Golden Bears was followed by a single from Lindsay Rood, putting runners on the corners. An RBI groundout scored one run, and an error from Nichole Fry kept the inning going as Taurie Pogue reached and the lead runner scored. Pogue advanced to second on an illegal pitch, and then came around to score unearned on a single from Kylie Reed.
The Golden Bears pushed around another run after a leadoff double from Taylor Koenig in the second inning, but Long Beach State was able to pull back that run on a solo home run from Torres.
After Cal scored two more runs in the fourth inning, Long Beach State threatened in the fifth inning. Alley Perkins singled to start the rally, and after another hit from Torres, Fry doubled to left center to bring home Perkins and put runners on second and third. Reliever Stephanie Trzcinski went through the heart of the 49er lineup however, striking out Haley Tobler and getting a popup from Darian Tautalafua to end the threat.
Trzcinski held on the rest of the way to collect her first save of the season, as the Beach fell to California 7-2.
The Beach jumped out to an early lead against No. 2 Michigan in game two on Sunday. Torres kicked off the game with a single, and after Fry got on via a fielder's choice, an RBI double from Tautalafua put Long Beach State on top 1-0. A single from Julia Lombardi moved the senior over to third, and Tautalafua came home to score on an RBI single from Lauren MacLeod.
Michigan (12-2) recovered in the bottom half of the inning, showing why they're one of the top ranked teams in the country. Sierra Lawrence was plunked on the first pitch of the game, and after a single by Abby Ramirez, a three-run home run from Sierra Romero gave the Wolverines the lead.
A solo home run from Lindsay Montemarano in the second inning and a two-run homer from Lawrence in the fourth inning increased the Michigan lead to 6-2. Another solo shot, this time from Kelly Christner added one more for the Wolverines in the fifth.
The Beach pulled back a pair in the sixth inning. Pinch hitter Mattie Scheele got a two-out rally started with a double, and Tierra Falo followed that up with a walk to put a pair of runners on. A double from LT Torres then brought in both Jessica Nogosek and Alley Perkins to cut the Michigan lead to three at 7-4.
A leadoff double from Aidan Falk led to more trouble in the sixth inning. After a groundout, Michigan hit four straight singles, bringing home three runs and making the score 10-4. Megan Betsa then closed out the seventh inning to earn her second save of the season.
Long Beach State continues tournament play next weekend, traveling to play in the Judi Garman Classic at Cal State Fullerton. The Beach will then have their first home game as part of that tournament on March 6, hosting Wisconsin at the LBSU Softball Complex at 9 a.m.
