The Long Beach State 49ers softball team was victorious Sunday over Cal State Fullerton in the finale of a three game series in front of 464 fans at the Softball Complex. The 49ers improved their record to 20-21 overall and 4-5 in the Big West and Cal State Fullerton dropped to 25-17 overall and 7-2 in the Big West.
The Beach split two games with the Titans on Saturday dropping the matinee 3-2 and then handed the Titans their first conference loss with a 3-0 victory in the second game. LBSU shortstop Jessica Beaver went 3-4 with 2 RBIs in the doubleheader. Breezy Goad and Whitney Radcliff also had RBIs Saturday.
On Sunday, The Beach’s Bridgette Pagano threw an impressive 5.2 innings in relief of starter Kelly Cross allowing four hits and striking out one to improve her record to 13-9.
The 49ers overcame a one run deficit in the fourth inning as Fullerton’s ace Candice Baker ventured into trouble as she issued two straight walks to Jessica Beaver and Panita Thanatharn. Baker managed to retire the next two batters before Breezy Goad singled in Jessica Beaver from second base to tie the score at one. A defensive mix up that resulted in a pass ball by the Titans lead to another 49er run which gave them the lead at 2-1. Second baseman Whitney Radcliff then singled to left to drive in Goad to take the 3-1 lead headed into the fifth inning.
The offense was provided in large part by Breezy Goad as she went 2-for-2 with two singles and an RBI. Lacy Tyler hit her first homerun of the season in the fifth inning and then later in the fifth, Jessica Beaver added to the 49er lead with a run-scoring single to break open the game for the 49ers.
The 49ers will begin a six-game road trip starting next Saturday as they travel to UC Riverside for three games and then travel to Stockton to face Pacific for three games the following weekend. The 49ers will return home on May 5 to take on UC Davis starting at 1 p.m. at the Softball Complex.
