The Long Beach State softball team kicked off its season at UCLA’s Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament, where it sandwiched a loss to No. 17 Texas A&M with wins over Wright State and Cal State Bakersfield.
The 49ers (2-1) beat Wright State 7-4 before suffering an 8-0 defeat to Texas A&M on Friday at Easton Stadium. The third and final game resulted in a 5-1 LBSU win over Bakersfield on Sunday.
Game one was decided by a seven-run third inning that put the 49ers past the Raiders (0-5). Starting pitcher Erin Jones-Wesley struggled early in the first inning after loading the bases on two walks and a hit batter. She limited the damage to just one run on a bases-loaded single, as she retired the side with two strikeouts.
The highlight of the game came in the game-deciding third inning, when the 49ers piled seven runs on Wright State starting pitcher Montana Wear. The offensive outburst was the product of a six-single rally sparked by a leadoff infield single hit by left fielder Brianna Stephan.
The Raider bats were nearly silent until they attempted a wild inning of their own in the bottom of the seventh. Five consecutive Raiders reached base to lead off the inning, but after tacking on three runs, relief pitcher Amanda Hansen retired the side in order and cut Wright State’s comeback short.
Leading the LBSU offense was Stephan, who had three hits, and third baseman Hannah De Gaetano, who collected two RBI.
Jones-Wesley was credited with the team’s first win. She struck out eight batters and allowed just one run despite surrendering five hits, two walks and two hit batters over four innings. Hansen picked up her first save of the season.
The ‘Niners had little time to celebrate their victory, as they only had half an hour before they had to take the field against a fresh Texas A&M squad.
Jones-Wesley made her second start in as many games and cruised through the first two and two-thirds innings before serving up three runs on two homers with one out to go in the third.
After a third Aggie home run in the fourth, Amanda Hansen was brought in to relieve for Jones-Wesley, but relief was something the 49ers didn’t receive until the game ended.
A three-run third, three-run fourth and two-run fifth by the Aggies ended the game early and completed an 8-0 victory over the 49ers. Over the five innings LBSU managed only two hits.
Texas A&M’s offense bruised the 49er pitching staff, as it tagged Jones-Wesley for four earned runs over three innings and Hansen for two earned runs and four walks over one third of an inning. Sophomore California transfer Arianna Erceg made her LBSU debut, pitching one and one-third innings and giving up two earned runs.
After taking Saturday to rest and recuperate, The Beach concluded its participation in the UCLA Tournament on Sunday with a 5-1 win over Cal State Bakersfield.
Jones-Wesley got the start again for the 49ers. She bounced back from her loss to Texas A&M and held the Roadrunners (0-3) hitless through the first three innings.
Bakersfield attacked first, touching Jones-Wesley for their sole run on an RBI double by designated player Jessica Castaneda in the fourth inning.
The ‘Niners responded quickly with a big inning in the bottom of the fourth, as they scored three runs off four hits, which included doubles by De Gaetano and catcher Sarah Carrasco.
Designated player Karli Sandoval padded the LBSU lead when she hit a two-run home run over the right-center wall in the fifth.
Jones-Wesley picked up the win, improving her tournament and season record to 2-1. Hansen earned her second save of the season.
The leaders of Sunday’s offense included Stephan and De Gaetano, who each had two hits. Sandoval and Carrasco each contributed a pair of RBI.
Leading The Beach in its first weekend of the season were Stephan, Sandoval and Jones-Wesley. Stephan hit .714 overall and Sandoval contributed three RBI. Jones-Wesley acquired 13 of the team’s 23 strikeouts.
The 49ers will return to the diamond on Friday to play Oregon, where they will spend the weekend playing five games in Las Vegas at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic.