Long Beach State Comeback Denies Northwestern, 3-2

3/4/2016 7:25:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

FULLERTON, CALIF. – Northwestern held a one-run lead in the seventh inning Friday afternoon at the Judi Garman Classic before a miracle Long Beach State rally that included the tying run scoring with two outs on a Willie Mays Hays-style play at the plate led to a 3-2 49ers win over the Wildcats.

Northwestern now is 7-9 overall on the season with the loss while Long Beach State improves to 10-7 overall with its win. NU returns to action with two games tomorrow, Saturday, March 5, beginning at noon CT/10 a.m. PT against San Jose State.

Northwestern started the scoring with its speed in the bottom of the first. Both Sabrina Rabin and Krista Williams bunted their way aboard for hits before executing a double steal. With one out and Amy Letourneau at the plate, a pitch sailed to the backstop allowing Williams to move to third and Rabin to scoot home for a quick 1-0 lead. Letourneau eventually walked as did Morgan Nelson to load the bases, then with two outs Alcy Bush laced a liner to center to drive in Williams for a 2-0 edge after one.

Both Wildcats' starter Kristen Wood and 49ers hurler Christina Clermont settled in nicely after that lengthy first inning. Wood retired nine in a row until a one-out single in the top of the fourth, but catcher Caylor Arnold quickly dispatched that runner attempting to steal second. Likewise, Northwestern did not get another base runner until Arnold reached on a two-out error in the bottom of the fourth, but Clermont fanned the next 'Cat to the plate.

Long Beach State broke the game's offensive silence in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with no outs on a walk, a single and a Northwestern error. The next batter hit a deep flyout to center to plate one on a sacrifice fly, but Wood recovered to get a groundout and a foul out to limit the damage and keep the Wildcats on top, 2-1.

After Wood had a much easier 1-2-3 sixth, Northwestern attempted to add insurance in the bottom half. With one out, Nelson drew her second walk of the contest before moving to second on Bush's second single of the game with two outs. Arnold then walked to load the bases, but Clermont notched a strikeout to keep NU's lead at just a single run.

In the bottom of the seventh, Wood notched a backward K of the leadoff batter before a single and another strikeout. The next 49er to plate hit a ground ball that was mishandled for an error, then NU's string of tough seventh innings continued with a bonkers play at the plate. On a single to right, the runner at second rounded third and raced home, where the throw was waiting for her. She somehow leapt OVER Arnold with her legs split and landed sprawled out with her right shoe on the plate, safe with the tying run in pure Willie Mays Hayes style. Another single followed and Long Beach State took its first lead of the contest, 3-2.

Letourneau relieved Wood in the circle and got a strikeout to end the top of the seventh. In the bottom half, Williams slapped a single back through the middle with one out but again, NU could get no more.

Wood (1-2) took the loss, going 6.2 innings and allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Letourneau retired the final batter with a K.

Williams and Bush each had two hits for NU at the plate.