The Long Beach State softball team held UC Riverside to just three hits in its regular-season finale Saturday, but the Highlanders made the most of them as they scored three runs for a 3-0 shutout victory over the 49ers at Amy S. Harrison Field.
LBSU (37-16, 15-6 Big West Conference) loaded the bases in both the first and seventh innings but couldn’t manage to score a run. Jordyn McDonald (9-15) limited the 49ers to just three hits while throwing just 87 pitches in the complete-game win.
Hannah De Gaetano broke up McDonald’s no-hitter in the fifth inning with a double, Nalani St. Germain added a single in the sixth and Megan Denio had a pinch-hit single in the seventh to account for all of the 49ers hits.
UCR (13-33, 6-15 Big West) built a three-run lead with a run in each of the first three innings. The Highlanders took the lead in the first scoring an unearned run with the help of two walks and an error, and added a second run on a RBI double to deep center field by Kayla White. In the third, Kameryn Hebenton led off the inning with a solo home run to left field.
Freshman Erin Jones-Wesley (22-6) took the loss for the 49ers allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits in three innings. Taylor Petty didn’t allow a hit or a walk in three innings of relief. She retired nine of the 10 batters she faced with the lone hitter reaching base on a dropped pop fly by catcher Dana Garcia.
Long Beach State finishes the regular season in sole possession of second place, behind regular-season champion the University of Pacific. The 49ers will find out Sunday if they receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Regional site fields will be announced Sunday at 7 p.m. on ESPNU. LBSU took a solid RPI of 32 into the final weekend of play. LBSU will hold a tournament selection party at Legends in Belmont Shore.
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