Report by LBSU

The Long Beach State softball team (31-19, 12-6 BWC) closes out the regular season this week as it heads to Pacific for a three-game Big West series, May 8-9. The 49ers tangle with the Tigers in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday, before meeting once more in the finale on Saturday (noon).

In her third season at the helm of the Long Beach State softball program, Kim Sowder has posted an impressive 99-61 (.619) overall record, putting her just one victory away from the 100-win milestone.

Pacific enters the weekend with an 18-31 overall record and a 3-15 mark in Big West action. Nicole Matson has paced the Tigers with a team-high .345 batting average, 31 RBI, 11 doubles and five home runs. Gabby McDaniel  has posted a team-best 2.81 earned run average, while Chelsea Engle leads the squad with seven wins and 109 strikeouts.