The only thing more sizzling than the 90-degree heat at the 49er Softball Complex Sunday afternoon was third baseman Jennifer Griffin’s bat.
The Whittier-native went 2-for-2 and drove in four runs as Long Beach State defeated UC Santa Barbara, 6-1, Sunday afternoon to complete the series sweep.
The ‘Niners (27-17, 8-4 Big West Conference) scorched UCSB starter Krista Cobb (14-8) for four runs in the second inning to break the game wide open. Brianna Goad and Bridgette Pagano singled to reach base and Ashley Weber later got on via fielder’s choice.
With the bases loaded and LBSU up 2-1, Griffin lifted a double to deep left-center to plate all three runners.
“We did a nice job with the bat today and had a lot of good 0-2 [count] at-bats,” head coach Kim Sowder said.
Griffin tacked on one more run in the fourth to give the ‘Niners a 6-1 lead on a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Goad from third. Goad finished the game 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Cobb lasted just 1 2/3 innings and gave up five runs — four earned — on five hits.
LBSU starter Brooke Turner (15-9) went the distance to pick up the win. Turner fanned six batters, walked one and allowed an unearned run on six hits.
“Brooke struggled against Santa Barbara last year,” Sowder said. “She’s doing a great job [since the start of conference play].”
The Gauchos (21-21, 4-8 Big West) had a chance to draw close in the fifth with the bases loaded and two out. After Jessica Ziegler reached on a fielder’s choice and Tiffany Wright legged out an infield single, Amanda Ziegler got on with a walk.
On the next at-bat, Griffin snagged a hot shot smoked down the third base line by Jessica Beristianos to end the threat.
UCSB scored its lone run in the first when a shallow fly hit by Beristianos led to a ‘Niner fielding error, allowing Christine Ramos to cross the plate. LBSU committed four errors in the game.
“There was a bit of sloppy defense today that’s not very characteristic [of this team],” Sowder said.
The Beach plays its final home series of the season next week against Cal State Fullerton (22-17, 10-2 Big West), starting with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. The Titans currently hold a two-game lead over LBSU in the Big West Conference race.
With nine games remaining in the regular season, Sowder said the team wants to keep winning and maintain a high RPI, rather than pay too much attention to the standings.
“We have to take care of business every week, and at the end of the season, see where we’re at,” she said. “The team’s playing with a lot of confidence and it’s a good time to be peaking.”
Game Note
LBSU right fielder Danielle Linke was scratched from today’s lineup for precautionary reasons. The senior sprained her ankle in Saturday’s 1-0 win over UCSB while trying to beat a pickoff throw to first base.