In a dominant three-game sweep of UC Riverside at the 49er Softball Complex, the No. 15-ranked Long Beach State softball team not only distanced itself from the rest of the Big West Conference, but also from a few previous school record holders.
The 49ers (36-12, 12-3 Big West) defeated UCR (18-32, 4-11 Big West) 2-1, 4-3 and 8-0 over the weekend as freshman pitcher Brooke Turner and senior shortstop Jessica Beaver made history.
Turner, a National Player of the Year finalist, toppled the single-season strikeout record with 17 in two games against the Highlanders and rose her total to 204, breaking Meredith Cervenka’s LBSU record by 13. Turner’s strikeout over the Highlanders’ Kameryn Hebenton in the third inning of game one of a doubleheader set the mark Saturday. The standout freshman cemented her new record Sunday and punched out six in a one-sided 8-0 victory, pushing her record to 23-4.
“Coming in as a freshman, I didn’t really expect to do as well as I have,” Turner said. “To break a record that was set by Meredith, who was a great pitcher here at Long Beach – just to even come close to it – is a big honor.”
The shutout gave Turner 15 on the season, which ties Mar Letourneau, Annette Gonzales and Sandy Winchester for the LBSU single-season record. Turner’s 22nd and 23rd win moves her into a fourth-place tie with Cervenka and Tammy Dietrich in LBSU single-season wins. She is four wins away from breaking the single-season win record, which is currently held – ironically – by her older sister Michelle (26).
Meanwhile, Beaver’s big home run to left field in the fifth inning sealed Sunday’s game for the conference-leading 49ers via the mercy rule, which is in effect after a team is leading by at least seven runs after five innings. Beaver also scored Morlet to give her two RBIs for the game and 112 for her career, breaking Jessica Smith’s LBSU record of 110.
Despite being thrilled about the new career mark, Beaver credited her teammates for the special day.
“I feel we’re all very motivated,” Beaver said. “We all felt that we haven’t played our exact best, but we tell each other we’ll go all the way.”
LBSU began the game with a three-run first inning. Senior first basewoman Jonae Perez hit an RBI double to score Beaver and give the 49ers a 1-0 lead. In the next at-bat junior third basewoman Jennifer Griffin hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Perez and push LBSU’s lead to 2-0. Another sacrifice fly, this time by junior right fielder Danielle Linke, scored senior catcher Brooke LeSage for the 3-0 lead.
Griffin was another 49er who attacked the LBSU record book, as she was walked twice over the weekend to tie Amanda Favorite (31) for the single-season mark.
The 49ers had six hits for the game and sent UCR starting pitcher Stephanie Marshall to the dugout early. Marshall only lasted 1.2 innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs scored while walking three hitters.
Highlander pitcher Amanda Klimczak replaced Marshall and didn’t fare any better. Klimczak was riddled by the 49er hitters and gave up three earned runs and walked four hitters.
Turner and the 49er defense, meanwhile, were the exact opposite.
The LBSU defense allowed only two hits for the game and five in the last two games against the Highlanders, after allowing seven in the first game. Head coach Kim Sowder was impressed with the team’s defensive dominance of the Highlanders and said it has improved from previous weeks.
“I felt great about today,” Sowder said. “We’ve been struggling with our defense. I definitely feel real good about our chances [in the NCAA Regionals]. We’ve put ourselves in good position to try to get better.”
LBSU edged UCR in one-run games in Saturday’s doubleheader. The 49ers won 2-1 off an RBI single by LeSage in the seventh inning. On an 0-1 pitch, the senior catcher laced a hit past UCR’s third basewoman Brooke Hebenton to score Beaver and secure the game one win.
“I wasn’t really looking for a specific pitch,” LeSage said, “just one that I could drive hard and get through the infield, so we could score that run. Anything that I could get my hands on top of. I didn’t want to fly out.”
LBSU held UCR scoreless for the final four innings to win 4-3 in game two. Ironically, sophomore starting pitcher Bridgette Pagano was the catalyst at bat and in the pitcher’s circle. Pagano hit a tremendous home run to left field in the fourth inning and scored senior left fielder Lacy Tyler to give LBSU the 4-3 lead. Tyler would also make a big save in the fifth.
With bases loaded in the fifth inning, Tyler completed a double play with a fly ball catch and assist to sophomore second basewoman Ashley Levine for the putout to end the inning.
Meanwhile, Pagano finished off the Highlanders with two consecutive strikeouts to end the game. The sophomore punched out six for the game and improved to 13-8 on the season.
The 49ers will travel to CS Fullerton for a three-game series, starting with a doubleheader Saturday. Game one is scheduled for a noon start, with game two following 30 minutes after the conclusion.
