The 49er softball team seems to have a knack for snapping long winning streaks.
Just four weeks removed from ending No. 5 UCLA's 18-game unbeaten streak, LBSU stopped Cal State Northridge's run at 11 to jump into sole possession of first place in the Big West Conference.
The 49ers (23-14, 4-1 Big West) grabbed the second game of the doubleheader, 3-2, behind a complete-game performance from right-hander Taylor Petty. Petty (10-3) struck out four and walked three, while allowing two runs on three hits.
"It helps us a lot [with our confidence] considering Northridge came in 11-0," she said.
The freshman got into a jam in the sixth with LBSU up, 3-2, and the Matadors having runners at the corners. CSUN shortstop Karla Chaparro reached first to start the inning after getting hit by a pitch and eventually moved to third on a passed ball.
Two outs later, Petty put Matadors second baseman Micah Putnam on first with a walk. But with CSUN (23-11, 3-2 Big West) on the verge of a rally, the San Pedro-native found a way to slam the door shut.
"I stayed concentrated," Petty said. "I kept telling myself 'I can do this.' I've got the defense behind me."
On the next at-bat, Petty built up a full-count against CSUN third baseman Tracy Allen before getting her to fly out to end the threat.
"She does a good job in those situations," LBSU head coach Kim Sowder said. "Allen's a tough hitter. That was a huge out, obviously."
Matador ace Deborah Duran (16-7) pitched 5 2/3 relief innings in the loss after going 3 2/3 strong in the early game.
"They had a pitcher who's thrown a lot," Sowder said. "She's thrown in the majority of their games this season so we wanted to make her work."
With the game tied, 2-2, in the fourth, LBSU finally scored the go-ahead run off Duran on an Ashley Weber single that plated center fielder Bridgette Pagano. Weber went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored in the doubleheader. Pagano went 1-for-3 with an RBI in the second game.
The Matadors jumped on the board in the first on an RBI double to center from designated player Christina Saenz to go up 1-0. The CSUN slugger, who is hitting .371 on the season, batted 1-for-5 and struck out twice in the two-game set.
"After those two runs, I buckled down," Petty said. "I finally started hitting my spots and getting the movement I needed."
Turner punches out seven as 'Niners end streak
Game 1 box score
Not to be outdone, right-hander Brooke Turner went the distance to help the 49ers defeat the Matadors, 6-2, in the early game to snap CSUN's 11-game winning-streak.
Turner (12-7) fanned seven batters, while allowing two runs on four hits and walked two.
LBSU teed off on Duran with two out and the game tied, 2-2, in the fourth when Weber plated Pagano and shortstop Alisha Rosen with a two-run single. Second baseman Brianna Goad scored the next run on a wild pitch, while third baseman Jennifer Griffin drove Weber in to stretch the lead to 6-2.
Rosen went 2-for-3 with an RBI to collect the first two hits of her collegiate career. Weber and left fielder Danielle Linke added two hits apiece.
"[Weber] came up with a clutch hit with two outs," Sowder said. "We've seen [Duran] a lot so we did a nice job of making contact."
The 'Niners attempt to go for the series sweep tomorrow in the finale scheduled for 1 p.m.
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