Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
Fairfield
Rowland, MacLeod Power Long Beach State Past Fairfield
3/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML)
Los Angeles, Calif. - No. 22 Long Beach State methodically built up a lead over Fairfield and pulled away late with a five-run fifth inning, winning a second-straight game via the run-rule 9-1 in six innings.
Long Beach State (22-7), playing as the designated visitors at Smith Field on the campus of LMU, struck early in the first inning. Naomi Hernandez singled to start the rally, and after a walk to Lauren MacLeod, Taylor Rowland doubled to score Hernandez and give the Beach a 1-0 lead over Fairfield (6-13)
The trio combined again to add another run in the third, as Hernandez was plunked, and after a single by MacLeod, a sacrifice fly by Rowland scored Hernandez once again.
An opposite field solo home run by Grayce Majam, her first of the season, added one more run in the fourth inning, and then the Beach broke the game open in the fifth.
Nichole Fry and Hernandez started the inning with back-to-back doubles, and then a third straight hit, a single from MacLeod made the score 5-0. A walk to Rowland put two runners on and after an RBI single from Jamie Wren, LT Torres gave the Beach an 8-0 lead with a two-run single.
An early victory was stymied as Fairfield scored a run in the bottom of the fifth, but the delay led to another time through the lineup for MacLeod and Rowland who delivered again. MacLeod drew a two-out walk with two outs, and Rowland hit her second double of the day to bring home the senior catcher.
Devyn Magnett then finished off the bottom half of the inning, striking out Alisha Marshall to pick up the win in her third complete game of the season, tying her career high with four strikeouts.
Long Beach State is back in action later today, facing Colgate at Loyola Marymount. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30.
