Run • Sophomore
Jessica Beaver is a returning player for
the 49er women’s softball team. The
women hold a record of 4-3 and host Southern
Utah Wednesday for a double-header. LBSU
Sports Information
Women start season strong
By Kim Oswell
Online Forty-Niner
Sports Editor
A victory against No. 2-ranked UCLA last week was the first win against the Bruins
since 2002 for the Long Beach State women’s softball team.
Junior Michelle Turner went seven innings and allowed just 5 hits with 6 strikeouts
to complete the shutout.
“
Overall, we did a good job,” said Head Coach Pete Manarino. “We will
continue to get better.”
The women participated in the Commercial Capital Classic in Santa Barbara this
weekend, but played only one game due to heavy rain, which resulted in canceling
the remainder of the games. The tournament consisted of six schools scheduled
to participate in a total of 15 games, but Girsh Park and UC Santa Barbara’s
Campus Diamond were not fit to play on.
The women won their only game against Tulsa, 6-2, which increased their overall
record to 4-3 for the season.
Turner was once again a strong force, pitching for the 49ers with 7 strikeouts
and allowing only 2 runs, tallying her third win so far on the season. Tiffanie
Wedell helped push LBSU to the win by going 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and a run scored.
Brooke
LeSage also aided the offense with 2 runs scored and batting 2-for-3 against
Tulsa.
The 49ers have had a strong start this season after finishing 39-16 in the 2005
season and earning their second straight league title. LBSU lost six seniors,
but returned sophomores Jonae Perez, Lacy Tyler, Jennifer Martinez, Franciska
Morlet,
LeSage and Jessica Beaver. Perez was the 2005 Big West Freshman Field Player
of the Year.
The women are led by Manarino who has 812 career wins at LBSU entering the 2006
season. Manarino won the 2004 Big West Conference Coach of the Year and also
in 1986, 1997, 1999 and 2003.
The squad is very young with 8 newcomers, six of them freshman. Turner and Lindsay
Russo are both junior transfers to LBSU.
“
We have a real young team this year and we lost our top three hitters,” Manarino
said. “We need to focus on our ability to pitch and take time to mature
our pitchers.”
Turner was named Big West Pitcher of the week due to her performance over the
past week compiling 13 strikeouts with an ERA of 1.00.
The captains for the 2006 team are Melanie McCauley, Wedelll, Kourtnee Gervasi
and Panita Thanatharn.
“
I expect a lot from them,” Manarino said. “We will take one game
at a time and try and get better.”
The women play a double-header at 1 p.m. Wednesday against Southern Utah at the
49er Softball Complex.
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