Long Beach State University
17-21, 4-5
Cal State Fullerton
27-15, 7-2
Beach Falls Late In Back-And-Forth Contest With Cal State Fullerton
4/14/2019 8:19:00 PM | Softball
Long Beach State took a pair of leads but ultimately fell 9-6 in the final game of the series.
Long Beach State (17-21, 4-5 Big West) jumped out to an early lead in the rubber game of the series. Jamie Wren singled followed by a pair of walks, loading the bases with one out. An RBI groundout from Lauren Lombardi brough home one run, and a single from Rowland scored one more as the Beach took a 2-0 lead. Maddy Ruffin walked to load the bases, and Katelyn Hanson was plunked to bring home one more as the Beach led 3-0.
Ashley Coleman would remain in command through three innings before giving up her first run to Cal State Fullerton (27-15, 7-2 Big West) in the fourth inning after a leadoff walk. The LBSU defense would support the junior pitcher throw, as Ruffin threw a laser from center field to cut down Julia Valenzuela at the plate to end the inning.
Two days, two outfield assists from @MaddyRuffin! Check out today's laser to cut down another run at the plate. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/VeDS0ZfXrf
— LBSU Softball (@LBSUSoftball) April 15, 2019
In the fifth, the Titans would tie the game on a two-run home run from Deshea Hill, but the Beach would bounce back with a two-out rally.
Dani Martinez, who had been tremendous in relief to that point, picked up the first two outs of the inning, but Fry singled and Gonzalez reached on a wild throw from Titans shortstop Sam Kennedy, bringing Fry all the way around from first to allow the Beach to retake the lead. Lauren Lombardi, Rowland and Ruffin followed with singles to push the Beach out in front 6-3. A poor outing from Kellie White in relief would undermine the comeback however.
White opened the sixth by hitting the first two batters and then walking Valenzuela, forcing Coleman to return to the circle. The junior picked up the first out of the inning, but walked in a run and then a bases-clearing triple from Ari Williams put Cal State Fullerton on top for good. The Titans would add two more runs in the inning to take a 9-6 lead.
Taylor Dockins, who recorded the final out of the fifth inning, would set down the Beach in the sixth and seventh innings to pick up the win for CS Fullerton.
Long Beach State will remain home for their next conference series, hosting UC Santa Barbara starting on Friday, April 19 with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dockins, Taylor (4-5)
L: Coleman, Ashley (9-10)
Batting:
2B: Hill, Deshea 1 ; Valenzuela, Julia 1
3B: Williams, Ari 1
HR: Hill, Deshea 1
RBI: Neil, Alexa 1 ; Williams, Ari 3 ; Hill, Deshea 3 ; Siofele, Irie 1 ; Valenzuela, Julia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Neil, Alexa 1 ; Williams, Ari 2 ; Hill, Deshea 1 ; Vigilante, Jasmyn 1 ; Villegas, Paola 1 ; Siofele, Irie 1 ; Valenzuela, Julia 1 ; Whitmore, Kelsie 1
SB: Williams, Ari 2
HBP: Kennedy, Sam 1 ; Rodriguez, Janelle 1
Batting:
RBI: Lombardi, Lauren 2 ; Rowland, Taylor 1 ; Ruffin, Maddy 1 ; Hanson, Katelyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wren, Jamie 1 ; Fry, Nichole 2 ; Gonzalez, Alyssa 1 ; Hutton, Kasey 1 ; Hernandez, Naomi 1
CS: McCollum, Sydney 1
HBP: Hanson, Katelyn 1
