Lacy Tyler's walk-off double with two outs in the bottom of the eighth
scored Jonae Perez with the game-winning run as host Long Beach State
came from behind to defeat Cal State Fullerton, 5-4, in an extra-inning
Big West Conference match-up in Long Beach on Tuesday afternoon.
Fullerton watched its five game winning streak
snapped in falling to 18-15 overall and 7-3 in league play. Long Beach
State improved to 29-13, 9-1 in conference action.
After the Titans stranded a pair in the top of the inning, Cal State Fullerton
got the first two outs via the strikeout before Perez drew a walk. That
brought Tyler to the plate as she smacked a two-strike offering to the
gap in left center to score the winning run.
The Titans had taken the early lead, plating two runs in the third on
an RBI groundout by Katie Gollhardt and a single to right by Candice Baker
for the 2-0 advantage.
Fullerton made it 3-0 in the fifth on Lindsey Bashor's RBI triple to the
wall in right, scoring Crystal Vieyra, who was hit by a pitch with one
out.
Long Beach State answered back with four runs in its half of the fifth
as Melanie McCauley reached on an error, Brooke LeSage singled, and both
scored on Kourtnee Gervasi's home run to right to tie the game.
Lauren Johnson followed Gervasi with a home run of her own in the next
at bat to give the 49ers the 4-3 lead.
The Titans tied the game in their half of the sixth as Baker tripled and
later scored with two outs as the Long Beach catcher's throw down to third
hit Baker, who was diving back into the base, and rolled into left field.
Baker (8-6) suffered the loss for the Titans, allowing four earned runs
on six hits, walking three and striking out seven. Brooke Weekley entered
in relief in the fifth following Johnson's home run, and walked one in
her one inning of work.
Marcel Torres (11-6) earned the win in the circle for the 49ers, allowing
just one hit and striking out two in three innings of relief work. Meredith
Cervenka earned the no decision, tossing five innings and allowing three
earned runs on four hits, walking two and striking out six.
Amanda Kamekona and Baker each had two hits on the day to lead the Titans.
The two teams conclude their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon
(April 20) at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader at the 49ers Softball Complex.
