Long Beach State University
BYU
Long Beach State Rallies Twice To Walk Off BYU
2/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Las Vegas, Nev. - Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh, Long Beach State rallied to score two runs to cap a back-and-forth victory over BYU.
The lead swung back and forth throughout the contest, with Long Beach State (6-1) taking the final lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Down a run, Grayce Majam led off the inning with a walk, and then a flyball from Jessica Flores into center field was dropped, putting two on with nobody out.
Tierra Falo laid down a bunt to move the runners and BYU (4-5) elected to try for the lead runner, with the throw sailing wide and putting two runners in scoring position with no outs. A Taylor Rowland single then allowed Flores to come home with the winning run, giving the Beach a 2-0 start in Las Vegas.
Long Beach State had taken the first lead in the top of the third inning, taking advantage of some wildness from BYU starter Autumn Moffat. LT Torres was plunked to start the inning, and Nichole Fry followed with a single. A passed ball followed by a wild pitch put LBSU on the board at 1-0.
BYU struck back with a two-run double from Caitlyn Alldredge in the top of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead, but Long Beach State answered with a two-run inning in the bottom of the fifth. Fry hit her second home run of the season to tie the game at two, and Naomi Hernandez kept her hitting streak alive with a single. Moving to second on a wild pitch, Hernandez scored on a double from Falo to give the Beach the lead once more.
The Cougars would recover once more, however. Alexa Strid led off the top of the sixth with a solo homer, and after three bleeders loaded the bases, a walk Rylee Jensen put BYU up 5-4, setting the stage for the seventh inning.
Devyn Magnett made the start for the Beach and had one of the more complete performances of her career, as the sophomore struck out three in a complete game, just the fourth of her young career. Long Beach State will play one more game Saturday, facing Boise State at approximately 1:30 p.m.
