Long Beach State University
Washington
Softball Loses Two Games To Ranked Foes Sunday
2/25/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)
Palm Springs, Calif. - Entering the day on an eight-game winning streak, Long Beach State's momentum was slowed with a pair of losses against No. 1 Washington and No. 19 Cal.
Long Beach State (12-3) was faced with a tough task against No. 1 Washington (18-0), and the Huskies, and particularly pitcher Taran Alvelo lived up to their reputation. Alvelo was perfect through 3.2 innings, and didn't allow a hit until a Naomi Hernandez single in the seventh inning, striking out ten.
The Huskies scored a pair of runs in both the first and third innings, and that was enough to support Alvelo. LBSU received a fine relief pitching performance from Jessica Flores, who pitched 4.0 scoreless innings, but the damage was done in the 4-0 loss.
Quickly turning around to face No. 19 California (15-1), it was the Beach that struck quickly. Nichole Fry doubled off of the fence in left field to start the game, the first of three hits for the junior, and Tierra Falo put Long Beach State on the board with a 2-run home run.
Taylor Rowland doubled home another run in the second inning, scoring LT Torres who had reached with a one-out single to put the Beach up 3-0.
A two-out rally in the third inning from Cal proved to be pivotal in the game, as a combination of wildness and a tight zone led to a big inning. With two on already from walks, a double from Bradie Fillmore cut the LBSU lead to 3-2, and then five straight walks from LBSU pitchers ultimately brought in three more runs to give Cal a 5-3 lead.
The Beach refused to quit. Pulling back a run in the fourth inning on an RBI single from Falo, Long Beach State tied the game in the seventh. Jamie Wren doubled to start the inning, and an error on an sacrifice allowed the junior to come home and tie the score. With two runners on however, Long Beach State was unable to add any more runs in the top half. Fatefully, a leadoff walk to Cal in the bottom of the seventh would end up being the winning run as a two-out single by Mikayla Coelho scored the walkoff winner. LBSU pitching ultimately had 12 walks in the loss.
Long Beach State continues tournament play on the road next week, heading to San Diego for five games at the San Diego Classic. The Beach will start by playing their first true road game of the season at San Diego on Thursday, March 1 at 6 p.m.
