Long Beach State University Athletics
Softball Earns At-Large Berth Into NCAA Regionals
5/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Long Beach, Calif. - Long Beach State will make its 23rd NCAA Regional appearance in 2016, as the Beach advanced to the postseason as an at-large selection. The Beach will face Baylor on Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPNU in the Eugene Regional.
Long Beach State will travel to Oregon as the Ducks host the Eugene Regional, beginning on Friday, May 20. The hosts, Oregon, will face Fordham in their opening game while the first game of the regional will pit the 49ers against Baylor.
Long Beach State finished the regular season with an overall record of 32-20, and finished as one of the Top 40 teams in the country in the NCAA's RPI rankings. Additionally, Long Beach State boasts wins over NCAA Tournament teams in Minnesota, North Dakota State, Arizona State, Ohio State, LIU Brooklyn, BYU and Cal State Fullerton.
Senior Darian Tautalafua leads the Long Beach State offense, hitting .347 and setting single-season records in both 15 home runs and 54 RBI, while Christina Clermont has been the team's top pitcher, posting a 22-10 record with 2.11 ERA. Clermont has struck out 195 batters this season, the second-most strikeouts in a single season in Long Beach State history.
Long Beach State is making their 23rd NCAA appearance, and is in search of the 49ers' sixth trip to the Women's College World Series.
