It’s nice to come home—the Long Beach State softball team (8-7) jumped out to an early lead and was able to withstand a late Iowa State rally to edge the Cyclones, 6-5, on the first day of the Mayfair Tournament Friday afternoon.  In the home air, the 49ers’ bats erupted, as they tallied a season-high 14 hits, four of them coming from junior Ashley Weber.  Junior Kristen Pocock went 3-for-4, while senior Danielle Linke connected for a three-run home run. Junior Brandy Reyes added a pair of hits.

Sophomore Brooke Turner (5-3) went the distance, allowing six hits and no walks while striking out five.

The Beach got on the board in the top of the third inning, when Weber started a two-out rally with a single to right field. Senior Jennifer Griffin then reached on a Cyclone error and Pocock followed with an RBI single. With runners on the corners, Reyes plated Griffin to put the 49ers on top 2-0.

LBSU added another run in the fifth when Weber placed the ball just out of the reach of Iowa State first baseman Sydni Jones. Griffin then brought her home, smacking a double down the left field line.

The 49ers strung together another two-out rally in the top of the sixth as junior Jodi Nakawatase and senior Brianna Goad singled, before Linke connected for her second home run of the season, driving a shot over the right field wall to give LBSU a 6-0 cushion.

Iowa State responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring five runs on four hits and a pair of 49er errors. Turner was able to get out of the jam, however, and then retired the Cyclones in order in their final at bat to hang on for the 6-5 victory.

Long Beach State continues action at the Mayfair Tournament tomorrow when it takes on BYU at 8:45am and Wisconsin at 3:30pm.  To track their games, and all the others in the tourney, click on this link for Mayfair Tournament Central.

From LBSU reports