Long Beach State softball star Darian Tautalafua breaks Big West record

Tautalafua hit two, including the go-ahead home run, in a 7-5 win to start the day, and hit a pair of solo homers in a 3-0 win in the second game. The third baseman passed Cal State Fullerton’s Yasmin Mossadeghi for the conference record and now has 49 career home runs.

Pitcher Christina Clermont eaed her third save in the first game, retiring the side in order in the bottom of the seventh. In the second game, she struck out five while allowing just three hits in a complete-game effort, her fifth shutout of the season.

LBSU will host Cal Poly for three games next weekend at the LBSU Softball Complex, begiing Saturday.

Baseball

Long Beach State 6-12, Cal State Northridge 3-0 >> The Dirtbags (19-11, 3-2) swept a Big West doubleheader at Cal State Northridge thanks to some standout sophomore pitching performances. Chris Mathewson struck out 10 in seven iings in the first game. No. 9 hitter Joey Sanchez hit his first two home runs of his college career. In the second game, Darren McCaughan also struck out 10 in seven scoreless iings while allowing three hits. It was his seventh quality start in eight starts this season. Designated hitter Luke Rasmussen drove in four runs with two hits and scored twice. He leads the team with 21 RBIs.

The 12 runs were a season high and it was the second time this season the Dirtbags, ranked No. 20 by Baseball America, swept a doubleheader. They conclude the Big West series with CSUN (21-10, 0-5) at 2 p.m. today.

Beach volleyball

Junior Kobi Pekich and sophomore Sammee Thomas won the Silver Bracket of pairs play at the USAV Collegiate Challenge in Hermosa Beach. After wiing two matches in the Sliver Bracket full of the No. 3 and No. 4 duos, they edged a team from USC 21-17, 16-21, 15-12. In the Gold Bracket, Nele Barber and Rachel Nieto were eliminated in the semifinals by a Trojan duo 21-13, 21-19.

No. 6 LBSU retus to action Wednesday, traveling to face No. 4 UCLA.

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