The 49ers made it a clean sweep on Sunday, as senior Jennifer Griffin, who had a career-high four RBI, lifted Long Beach State to a 6-1 victory over UC Santa Barbara Sunday afternoon at the 49er Softball Complex.
The Beach improved to 27-17 overall and 8-4 in the Big West, but remained in third place in the conference standings as both Cal Poly and Cal State Fullerton also swept their adversaries this weekend, moving to 10-2 in league play.
Sophomore Brooke Turner (15-9) went the distance, allowing one unearned run on six hits and four 49er errors. Turner struck out six against just one walk.
In addition to her four RBI, Griffin finished the day 2-for-2. Classmate Brianna Goad also had two hits, while junior Bridgette Pagano scored twice.
UCSB (21-21, 4-8 BWC) struck first in the opening frame when Christine Ramos scored on an error by shortstop Ashley Levine, but LBSU quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning as a sacrifice fly from junior Brandy Reyes plated Pagano.
The 49ers broke the 1-1 tie with four runs on four hits in the second. Levine got The Beach started, drawing a leadoff walk and eventually scoring on a single by Goad. LBSU then went on to load the bases, setting up a two-out, three-RBI double by Griffin, putting The Beach up, 5-1.
Long Beach State added a textbook run in the bottom of the fourth as Goad opened the inning with a single, followed by a free pass to Pagano. Junior Ashley Weber then laid down her conference-leading 23rd sacrifice bunt before Griffin hit a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield, allowing Goad to score.
Krista Cobb (14-9) was credited with the loss for UCSB as she lasted 1.2 innings after giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits. Jenny Liepman entered the game in relief, allowing just one hit, but walking four, in 4.1 innings of work.
Ramos led the Gaucho offense with two hits and UCSB’s lone run of the weekend.
The Beach closes out its regular season home schedule April 25-26 when it welcomes Cal State Fullerton to the 49er Softball Complex for senior weekend. The two teams will square off in a doubleheader beginning at 1pm on Saturday, before closing out the series with a single game on Sunday at 1pm.
From LBSU reports