Valentine’s Day had a rough start for the Long Beach State softball team, as it were handed its second loss of the season Tuesday morning in a 9-1 loss to No. 8 University of Washington at the LBSU Softball Complex.
The Beach put up one more error than hits in the game, committing four errors and only coming up with three hits.
The Huskies struck early in the game, scoring four of their nine runs in the first two innings.
Starting pitcher for the 49ers, senior Christina Clermont, got the loss and exited the game after only two innings of work. She was relieved by freshman Devyn Magnett, who pitched three scoreless innings.
Junior Madi Schreyer got the win for Washington as she went six and a third innings with three strikeouts and one earned run.
Trysten Melhart stole two bases for the Huskies and was one of the four Washington players with at least two hits.
For the Beach, junior LT Torres reached base three times; on a single, a walk and a hit by pitch. But, the only run brought in for the 49ers was provided by pinch runner junior Rachel Loera in the fourth inning.
Freshman Aniesa Maulupe, who recorded her first college home run in Saturday’s win against San Diego State, went 0-2 with a walk and a strikeout.
The Beach continues to struggle against No.8 University of Washington. The last time in 2011 the two teams faced each other, the Huskies beat the Beach 14-1.
While the defense for the 49ers had a rough start, plays made by sophomores Kelli Finan at third base and Summer Pohl in right field throughout the game kept runs off the board.
The ladies on the softball field at the Beach hope to pick up from this loss and continue onto a four-game series this weekend against both Utah and CSU Bakersfield, all part of their ongoing homestand to start the season.
Two games will be played on both Friday and Saturday, weather permitting, starting at 9 a.m. against Utah.