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Beach
postseason play is short-lived with two
losses
By
Matt Pearson
Online Forty-Niner
Sports Editor
Despite
a valiant effort, postseason play came
to an end for No. 24-ranked Long Beach
State softball team as the 49ers let
a one-run lead slip away in a 4-3 loss
to the No. 2-seeded California Golden
Bears May 20.
With LBSU up 3-2 in the top of the seventh, junior Haley Woods smacked a two-out
double to center field that scored junior Lindsay James and senior Vicky Galindo
to put Cal up 4-3. That would be all the Golden Bears (47-12) needed as LBSU
went down in order in the bottom half of the inning to end the game.
Senior pitcher Meredith Cervenka (23-9) picked up the loss after allowing four
runs although only one was earned. Junior Kristina Thorson (22-5) pitched 5.2
innings, gave up two runs on four hits and struck out three for Cal.
Cal drew first blood in the second innings when freshman Julie Meyer connected
for an RBI-single that scored junior second baseman Emily Friedman to put the
Golden Bears up, 1-0.
The Beach responded in the bottom half of the inning when a double by sophomore
left fielder Kourtnee Gervasi and a little help on an error from shortstop
Chelsea Spencer allowed freshman right fielder Jonae Perez to score and tie
the game at 1-1.
With Cal up 2-1 in the third inning, LBSU once again came back to tie the game
courtesy of an RBI-double from freshman shortstop Lacy Tyler that scored senior
first baseman Oli Keohohou.
Senior center fielder Lauren Johnson connected for a solo home run in the fourth
inning to give the 49ers a 3-2 lead. It was Johnson’s 14th homer of the
season, which is a single-season school record. Johnson also set a single-season
school record for runs scored, with 42.
The 49ers lost in the opening game of the 2005 NCAA Softball Regionals to host
and No. 15-ranked Fresno State Bulldogs 4-0 on May 19.
“At this time of the year, it’s all about doing the little things,” Head
Coach Pete Manarino said. “We had a golden opportunity in the first inning
[when the 49ers had runners on second and third base]. We just couldn’t
get it done.”
Senior Jamie Southern (27-3) stifled the 49er hitters all day long as she only
gave up three hits to go along with 11 strikeouts. Senior Marcel Torres (15-7)
gave up four runs on seven hits and pitched five innings in the loss.
With the Bulldogs up 1-0 in the third, freshman first baseman Kristin Sylvester
ripped a double that scored both sophomore catcher Nicole Willis and junior
shortstop Christina Clark. Sylvester later scored on an RBI-single by sophomore
left fielder Rachael Donaldson.
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