The encouraging cheers that came out of the first base dugout were the loudest they’ve been all season.
After experiencing a year filled with adversity, the Long Beach State softball team had good reason to express such lively emotions.
The 49ers (26-26, 10-11 Big West Conference) made it a clean sweep against UC Riverside, defeating the Highlanders, 4-0, in the series finale at the 49er Softball Complex on Saturday in front of 334 fans.
“It means a lot,” junior pitcher Brooke Turner said. “To come back strong, knowing that we’re a good team, and do it for the seniors and just to be out there and get a sweep on the weekend was great. I think everyone is just happy to end on a good note.”
Turner (13-10) tossed her second shoutout of the series, giving up four hits and one walk, while striking out six during seven innings in the circle. She duplicated her efforts from yesterday as she did not allow the Highlanders to advance any base runners past second.
The ‘Niners broke out their bats in the fourth inning to produce all of their runs and end the scoreless ballgame.
Alisha Rosen pinch ran for Caitrin DeBaun, who got things started with a leadoff single up the middle. Rosen, who advanced to second on a wild pitch, eventually crossed the plate on an RBI single to right by Liz Javier.
Beach catcher Kristen Pocock drew a walk to load the bases with 49ers. Jodi Nakawatase plated Brandy Reyes on a fielder’s choice, making it a 2-0 contest.
“It feels really good, they should be proud of the way they finished the season,” head coach Kim Sowder said.
LBSU wrapped up the season winning five of its last six games.
Riverside pitcher Marissa Alvidrez (15-16), who hit two batters on the day, plunked senior Ashley Levine in the back. It was the second time Alvidrez nailed Levine during the series, as she hurled one at her in yesterday’s nightcap after Casey Burba knocked down UCR catcher Alexis Pickett at home plate.
LBSU added a pair of runs on the scoreboard when freshman Bree Stephan smacked a two-out, two-run single. Stephan collected four RBIs over the weekend.
Reyes, one of six seniors honored before the game, went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
“I wanted to do what I could to help the program, especially since we were having a rough season,” Reyes said reflecting on her final season. “This is what I love to do, so I just wanted to finish what I love with all my heart and have a good end of the season.”
The Highlanders (22-34, 7-14 Big West) threatened in the top of the seventh after Tiana Towns reached on an error and Pickett singled through the right side, but their rally was cut short as Turner was able to produce a flyout to end the game.
Long Beach honored Levine, Nakawatase, Bridgette Pagano, Pocock, Reyes and Ashley Weber, who make up the six seniors on the roster, prior to the first pitch.
“They’re a very talented group of seniors,” Sowder said. “Four of them played together before they even got here, so it was a pretty tight group. They did a nice job in these last couple of weeks in leading the way and setting us up going into next year.”
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