May 3, 2011

Complete Release in PDF Format

TELEVISION: ESPNU will broadcast Saturday's doubleheader live from the 49er Softball Complex. Anne Marie Anderson will handle play-by-play duties, while Garland Cooper provides color commentary.

SPECIAL START TIME: Saturday's games will start at 12 p.m. instead of the normal 1 p.m. first pitch at the 49er Softball Complex. The 49ers moved the start time to accommodate ESPNU.

49ERS FACE CAL STATE FULLERTON IN CRUCIAL THREE-GAME SERIES: Long Beach State has positioned itself for a Big West Conference championship if the 49ers can take care of business during the league's final two weeks. The 49ers sit in a first-place tie with Pacific at 11-4 with six games to play. The 49ers host Cal State Fullerton this weekend, with the Titans sitting just one game behind the league leaders. The 49ers wrap up the season with a three-game series at UC Riverside on May 13-14.

LEADER IN THE CLUBHOUSE?: Long Beach State will most likely know where it sits in the race for a league title before the first pitch is ever thrown on Saturday. Pacific will play all three of its games against fourth-place UC Santa Barbara before LBSU and Fullerton open their series on Saturday. Pacific hosts UCSB in a doubleheader on Friday and then plays a single game against the Gauchos at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Both Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton will know what they need to do to keep pace with the Tigers for the league title.

JONES-WESLEY NAMED BIG WEST CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK FOR SIXTH TIME: Erin Jones-Wesley has been named the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week after picking up three wins last weekend. The player of the week honor is the sixth this season for Jones-Wesley. The 49er freshman went 3-0 on the week, winning all three conference games over UC Santa Barbara. She held the Gauchos to just 14 hits in 20 innings with 16 strikeouts. Jones-Wesley threw a pair of complete games, including her 10th shutout of the season in a 5-0 LBSU win in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. She allowed just five hits and struck out five in the win. Jones-Wesley picked up her second win of the weekend in the nightcap on Saturday. She pitched the final five innings in Long Beach State's 13-inning, 6-5 win allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four. Jones-Wesley finished the weekend trifecta picking up a 3-2 win on Sunday in eight innings. She pitched her 16th complete game of the season allowing just two runs on seven hits, while striking out seven.

JONES-WESLEY DOMINATING BIG WEST WEEKLY AWARDS: Erin Jones-Wesley continues to grab Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week honors. The 49er freshman has earned the award in six of a possible 12 weeks this season. No other pitcher in the Big West has won more than two weekly awards. A total of nine different pitchers have won at least one weekly honor thanks to three weeks where co-pitchers of the week were named.

Jones-Wesley didn't waste any time in winning her first pitcher of the week honor. She claimed the season's first honor after the first weekend of the season when she blanked Boise State 2-0 twice. Jones-Wesley won her second honor after the Cathedral City Classic Feb. 24-26 when she picked up a win over then-No. 6 Oklahoma. Her third player of the week came after the Judi Garman Tournament in Fullerton March 18-20 after she beat DePaul 2-1 and threw a one-hitter in a 1-0 win over Illinois. She was named co-pitcher of the week, her fourth award, after going 2-0 with a save in games against Ohio and Canisius on March 23-25. Her fifth POW was after picking up a pair of wins during a three-game sweep of UC Davis on April 16-17. Her sixth came on Monday after she picked up all three wins over UC Santa Barbara in a crucial three-game series sweep last weekend. Ironically, Jones-Wesley has thrown a pair of no-hitters this season and didn't win the award either of those weeks.

JONES-WESLEY EIGHTH IN SINGLE-SEASON STRIKEOUTS AT LBSU, CLOSING IN ON TOP 10 IN THREE OTHER CATEGORIES: Erin Jones-Wesley moved into eighth in single-season strikeouts at Long Beach State last weekend against UCSB. The freshman ran her total to 143 with two weeks left in the regular season. She needs nine more to pass Meredith Cervenka (2002) for seventh and 16 to pass Brooke Turner (2009) and Cervenka (2004) for sixth and fifth. Turner is the all-time leader with 237 strikeouts in 2008.

Jones-Wesley could also crack the top 10 in two other single-season categories this weekend against Cal State Fullerton. She needs one win to move into a six-way tie for the ninth most wins in a season, while two wins would move her into a tie for eighth and three wins would get her into a tie for seventh. Jones-Wesley needs one shutout to crack the top 10 and move into a tie for seventh, two shutouts would put her in a tie for sixth and three would give her a tie for fifth. She also is closing in on the top 10 in appearances. She has 31 and needs five more to crack the top 10.

JONES-WESLEY THROWS TWO NO-HITTERS: Erin Jones-Wesley threw the 21st no-hitter in Long Beach State history leading the 49ers to a 7-1 win over No. 21 Baylor on March 5. Jones-Wesley struck out six and walked two in seven innings, while giving up a run on a pair of fielding errors by the 49ers. The no-hitter was the first by a 49er since Bridgette Pagano tossed a no-hitter in a 7-0 win over Brown on March 27, 2007. It didn't take long for Jones-Wesley to make it two no-hitters in her career and 22 in school history. On March 13, Jones-Wesley threw a no-hitter while striking out a career-best 11 against Utah State in a 7-0 win. Jones-Wesley has also thrown two one-hitters this season, one against Illinois and one vs. UC Davis.

JONES-WESLEY'S TWO NO-HITTERS IN A SEASON IS ONE SHY OF SCHOOL RECORD: Erin Jones-Wesley's two no-hitters this season ties for the second most no-hitters in a single season at LBSU. Jones-Wesley has matched Sandy Winchester with two, one behind Meredith Cervenka's school record of three no-hitters in a season. Winchester was the first 49er to throw two no-hitters in the same season when she did it in 1986. Cervenka threw three no-hitters during the 2004 season.

JONES-WESLEY RANKS IN TIE FOR THIRD IN ALL-TIME NO-HITTERS AT LONG BEACH STATE: Erin Jones-Wesley has thrown two no-hitters in her short career at Long Beach State, but she already ranks in a tie for third in career no-hitters by a 49er. Jones-Wesley is tied with Lindsey Knoff (2001-04), Kristi Fox (1998-00), Stacy Van Essen (1991-94) and Diane Lewis (1885-86, 88-89) on the all-time list. Meredith Cervenka (2002-05) is the all-time leader with four no-hitters, while Sandy Winchester (1984-87) is second with three.

JONES-WESLEY'S 11 STRIKEOUTS AGAINST UTAH STATE RANKS NINTH ALL-TIME AT LBSU: Erin Jones-Wesley's 11 strikeouts against Utah State on March 13 is tied for the ninth most in school history. Jones-Wesley is one of 10 LBSU pitchers tied for ninth. Brooke Turner holds the school record with 16 strikeouts in a 2-1 win over Florida in 10 innings on Feb. 27, 2008. Turner is also second on the list with 15 strikeouts against San Diego on Feb. 9, 2008. Turner also ranks in a tie for third (13 strikeouts), a tie for fifth (12 strikeouts) and a tie with Jones-Wesley for ninth (three times) with 11 strikeouts. Taylor Petty also has struck out 11 batters twice during her career.

TURNER CLIMBING RECORD BOOKS: Senior Brooke Turner enters this week's games ranked among Long Beach State's career leaders in six pitching categories. The Buena Park product is already second in strikeouts and wins. She needs just 23 more strikeouts to pass Meredith Cervenka (2002-05) for the all-time lead. She moved into sole possession of second in wins passing Stacy Van Essen (1991-94) against UC Davis on April 16. She now has 67 and trails Cervenka by 11 for the all-time lead. Turner also ranks fifth in shutouts and appearances and is seventh in complete games and innings pitched.

TURNER WINS 14TH CAREER BIG WEST CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONOR: Senior Brooke Turner was named the Big West Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 7, marking the 14th time during her career she has won a POW award. Turner claimed the latest honor after going 3-0 at the Campbell/Cartier Tournament in San Diego, March 3-5. Turner finished the tournament with a 1.50 ERA and wins over BYU, No. 24 Houston and No. 23 Fresno State. Turner won a league record eight pitcher of the week honors during her freshman year, and added two as a sophomore and three as a junior.

PETTY RANKS AMONG ALL-TIME LEADERS IN TWO CAREER CATEGORIES, CLOSING IN ON OTHERS: Junior Taylor Petty is also among the school's all-time leaders in two categories and is closing in on the top 10 in a number of others. Petty heads into this week's games sixth in strikeouts, just two out of fifth, and fourth in saves. She needs three strikeouts to pass Kristi Fox (1998-00) for fifth and seven to pass Lindsey Knoff (2001-04) for fourth. Petty picked up the fifth save of her career against UC Davis on April 17 to pass Knoff for fourth all-time. She needs one more to move into a tie for second.

PETTY NEEDS ONE SAVE TO TIE LBSU SINGLE-SEASON RECORD: Taylor Petty has three saves this season to move into a tie for second all-time at LBSU with six other 49ers. She can tie Mary Letourneau (1990) for the all-time lead with one more save.

ST. GERMAIN CLAIMS FIRST CAREER PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR: Second baseman Nalani St. Germain was named the Big West Conference Player of the Week after leading LBSU to a tournament championship at the Campbell/Cartier Tournament in San Diego on March 3-5. St. Germain hit .643 (9-for-14) with a home run and four RBI in the tournament.

ST. GERMAIN FIFTH IN CAREER HOME RUNS AT LONG BEACH STATE: Sophomore Nalani St. Germain hit the 15th home run of her career against UC Davis on April 16, moving her into a tie for fourth with Arleigh Thorp (2001-04) on the all-time home run list at LBSU. She needs two more to tie Jessica Smith (1992-02) for third. Lauren Johnson (2002-05) is the all-time leader with 24.

ST. GERMAIN'S SEVEN HOME RUNS THIS SEASON RANKS NINTH ALL-TIME AT LBSU: Nalani St. Germain hit her seventh home run of the season against UC Davis on April 16 allowing her to move into a tie for ninth with Colleen Burdick (2004) on the single-season home runs list at LBSU. St. Germain can match her season total from her freshman year with one more HR and move into a five-way tie for fifth.

DENIO MOVES INTO TOP 10 IN SINGLE-SEASON WALKS AT LBSU: Megan Denio has drawn 26 walks this season to move into a three-way tie for seventh all-time in single-season walks at LBSU. She needs just five more to jump all the way up to a tie for third.

DENIO EARNS FIRST CAREER BIG WEST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD: Junior outfielder Megan Denio earned her first Big West Conference Player of the Week honor after an impressive weekend at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas on Feb. 18-20. Denio hit .467 with her first career home run, six RBI and a stolen base in LBSU's five games.

SCHALLIG AND DENIO TIE SCHOOL RECORD FOR RBI IN A GAME: It's been more than 11 years since Jessica Smith drove in a school-record six runs in a game twice in less than a month. Since that time, six players had put up five RBI in a game but nobody had been able to tie or break Smith's record. That changed earlier this year when, not one, but two Long Beach State players tied the record with six RBI in a game. Christina Schallig was the first to tie the record when she had a pair of 3-run home runs in LBSU's 13-5 win over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. One day later, Megan Denio joined Schallig and Jones as the only three players in school history with six RBI in a game. Denio did it in an 11-0 win over Arkansas, which she capped with a grand slam, her first career home run. Smith originally set the record with six RBI at UC Santa Barbara on April 10, 1999, and then she tied it less than a month later with six RBI vs. New Mexico State on May 2, 1999.

SCHALLIG TIES SCHOOL RECORD WITH TWO HOME RUNS IN A GAME: Not only did Christina Schallig tie the Long Beach State record with six RBI in the 49ers win over Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, but the LBSU first baseman also tied the school record with two home runs in a game. Schallig became the 14th 49er to hit two homers in a game, and the first since Michelle Turner hit a pair of bombs against South Florida on March 5, 2006.

CARRASCO NAMED BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Freshman Sarah Carrasco was named the Big West Conference Player of the Week after leading Long Beach State to a 2-1 record at Cal Poly on April 22-23. Carrasco hit .600 against the Mustangs going 6-for-10 at the plate with a .900 slugging percentage. She had three doubles in the series, including one in the top of the seventh inning that led to the winning run in a 3-2 decision in the series opener. She opened the series going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a RBI and a run scored in the 3-2 win. Carrasco followed in the second game of the doubleheader with a 1-for-3 effort with two RBI and a run scored in a 7-1 win. In Saturday's 5-4 eight-inning loss, Carrasco went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored.

DE GAETANO SPARKING 49ER OFFENSE SINCE MOVING INTO LEADOFF SPOT: Long Beach State coach Kim Sowder moved freshman Hannah De Gaetano to the leadoff spot for the second game of the Cal State Northridge series on April 10 and she has sparked the 49ers offense to another level ever since. Before moving into the leadoff spot, De Gaetano was hitting just .211 with a .298 slugging percentage. In the 10 games since the move to leadoff, the freshman leftfielder is hitting .459 with a .622 slugging percentage. She has hits in eight of the 10 games, and has multiple hits in six of those games including a 4-for-4 effort with three RBI against UC Davis on April 16. De Gaetano's move to leadoff has also sparked the 49ers' offense. As a team, LBSU is hitting .053 points higher than it was before she was inserted in the leadoff spot. The 49ers are hitting .320 as a team over the last 10 games, while hitting .267 in the first 37 games. LBSU is 8-2 in the last 10 games.

UNDERCLASSMEN MAKING BIG IMPACT ON 49ERS OFFENSE AND PITCHING STAFF: Freshmen and sophomores are playing a huge role in Long Beach State's success on the field so far this season. Seven of the 49ers' top 11 hitters are either freshmen or sophomores (and that doesn't count Erin Jones-Wesley who is hitting .400 in 10 games), with underclassmen leading the team in at-bats, runs, home runs, total bases, slugging percentage, hit-by-pitch, on-base percentage, sacrifice flies, sacrifice bunts, and stolen bases. On the mound, freshmen lead the 49ers in ERA, wins, appearances, starts, complete games, innings pitched, shutouts and strikeouts.