LAKEWOOD, CALIF. - The University of Hawai`i softball team dropped its opening games of the 2002 season at Long Beach State 5-4 and 1-0 at Mayfair Park as both games went extra-innings.

Meredith Cerevenka (3-0) took the win in game two for The Beach, tossing all nine innings, giving up one earned run, while reliever Shannon Tabion (0-1) took the loss. The Wahine scored three consecutive unearned runs to tie it at 4-4 and send the second game into extra innings. Denise Dahlberg led off the seventh with a single, before scoring on rightfielder Liz Borcich's two-run error.

The 49ers scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Christina Zepeda's RBI triple in the fourth inning gave LBSU a 3-1 lead after April Crowell cut the 49ers deficit in half with a solo homer to left field in the fourth inning.

The 49ers chased starter Melissa Coosan from the game in the second, after the Wahine hurler walked four, gave up two hits and two runs as The Beach staked themselves out to a 2-0 lead after two.

In game one, Jamie Farnworth scored ahead of the throw from second baseman Natalie Gonzalez off of Christina Zepeda's fielder choice as The Beach defeated Hawaii 1-0 in nine innings. Lindsey Knoff (1-1) picked up the win tossing a four-hit shutout, while Sheri Oronoz (0-1) took the loss.Arleigh Thorp and Jessica Smith each had two hits for LBSU.

Knoff was able to work out of trouble in the top of the eighth inning, as Knoff forced Stacey Porter into a fielder's choice to end the inning after Hawaii put two on with two out. Marie Jackson broke up Knoff's no-hitter with two outs in the sixth inning.

The Rainbow Wahine continue their road trip with a doubleheader at UC Riverside Wednesday before moving on to San Diego State's Aztec Invitational Friday.