49er softball season ends in shut-out

By Laurel Veit 

On-Line Forty-Niner

The 49ers lost their first game of the tournament against Oklahoma by a score of 3-1. However, they bounced back with a 8-0 shut-out of their own against Southern, but were then eliminated by Oregon State in the double elimination format.

Although the 49ers did not make it to the College World Series, they did capture their third Big West Conference title this season. The team's appearance in the playoffs marked its twelfth time they have been to a NCAA regional tournament.

Senior center fielder Melanie Muniz, the only 49er to play on three Big West Championship teams, finished her career with the school's highest ever batting average at .319 and became the first player to hit over .400 in a single season. Her batting average of .407 set a new school record.

Muniz also collected a school record 77 hits. She was selected as a All-Big West Conference First Team member and to the All-Western Regional First Team. 

She started every game this season-being only the second player in team history to do so-and is one of only two seniors who won't be returning next season. 

Freshman right fielder Jessica Smith became the first 49er player to collect six RBI in a single game, a feat she accomplished twice; first against UC Santa Barbara and again in a game with New Mexico State. Smith and sophomore pitcher Traci Hensel were named to the Second Team All-Big West Conference.

Junior pitcher Kristi Fox was named First Team All-Big West Conference. She lead the team in earned run average at 1.45 and also led the team with 93 strikeouts. 

The 49ers racked up six Big West Player of the Week honors during the 1999 season including three from Fox, two for Smith and one for Muniz.

In his 16th season head coach of the 49ers, Pete Manarino improved his career record to 595-363-2. His wining percentage of .621 gives him the highest winning percentage of any coach in the history of Long Beach State athletics.