Report by LBSU
Sophomore Taylor Petty lifted the Long Beach State softball team (20-19, 4-4 BWC) to a Big West doubleheader split against UC Davis with her second one-hit shutout of the season. The 49ers dropped the opener, 5-0, before bouncing back with a 2-0 victory Saturday afternoon at LaRue Field.
UC Davis 5, Long Beach State 0
UC Davis built an early lead and never looked back as it defeated Long Beach State, 5-0, in the two teams’ Big West Conference series opener.
Junior Brooke Turner (9-8) was credited with the loss as she allowed two runs on one hit. Senior Bridgette Pagano also gave up three runs on five hits in 5.2 innings of relief.
Dana Waldusky (6-11) quieted the 49er bats, tossing a three-hit shutout for UC Davis. Freshman Bree Stephan and seniors Ashley Levine and Brandy Reyes all found their way into the hit column for The Beach.
UCD got on the board in the first inning after Turner hit a batter and gave up a single. When both runners moved up a base on an illegal pitch, Pagano came on in relief, retiring Sarah Axelson before Alex Holmes’ two-RBI double gave the Aggies the early advantage.
UC Davis (15-24, 4-3 BWC) tacked on one more in the second and two in the sixth for the final 5-0 margin.
The 49ers’ best opportunity to score came in the top of the sixth when Levine led off with an infield single. Casey Burba then pinch ran for Levine and stole second with one out, but Waldusky was able to retire Nalani St. Germain and Ashley Weber to end the threat.
Long Beach State 2, UC Davis 0
Taylor Petty helped salvage a split for LBSU as she tossed a one-hit shutout to lead the 49ers to a 2-0 triumph in the back end of the doubleheader.
Petty (8-10) did not allow a hit until Alex Holmes singled up the middle for the Aggies in the bottom of the seventh. The San Pedro, Calif., native finished the day with a season-high nine strikeouts.
Freshman Bree Stephan led the 49ers on the offensive end, going 2-for-3, while driving in both of LBSU’s runs.
The Beach broke open a pitcher’s duel in the final frame, scoring a pair of runs on three hits. Liz Javier led off with a base hit before Kristen Pocock doubled to right center. With runners on second and third, Stephan came through with a clutch one-out single down the right field line to put the 49ers up, 2-0.
Holmes broke up Petty’s no-hit bid with one out in the bottom of the seventh, before Fan walked to bring the winning run to the plate. Petty then settled down, striking out Marissa Araujo and getting Rachel Miller to ground out to end the game.
Long Beach State returns to LaRue Field on Sunday, April 18, when it takes on UC Davis in the rubber game beginning at noon.