Long Beach State University
Northwestern
Meza, MacLeod Lift Long Beach State To Seventh Straight Win
2/24/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Palm Springs, Calif. - Long Beach State Softball is off to its best start in program history, winning seven in a row and beginning the season 11-1 after a run-rule victory over Northwestern, 9-0 in six innings.
With the win, Long Beach State improves to 11-1, topping the 1993 squad for the best start in school history. The Beach picked up the win in impressive fashion as well, winning via the run rule for the third time in four games.
Sophomore Cielo Meza continued her impressive start the season with a complete game shutout, striking out six on the way to improving to 6-0 on the season and holding an ERA of 0.82.
Meanwhile, the Long Beach State offense wasted no time in giving Meza a cushion over Northwestern (6-5). Jessica Flores drew a leadoff walk to start the second inning, and following a single from Grayce Majam, Lauren MacLeod smacked a three-run shot to give the Beach a 3-0 lead after two.
Flores drove in two more runs an inning later with a double in the third inning, and Long Beach State tacked on two more in the fourth inning with a pair of runs.
Up 7-0, consecutive hits from Naomi Hernandez and Julia Lombardi put two runners on for the Beach in the top of the sixth, and a double from Jamie Wren brought both home as the Beach took a nine-run lead on the way to the shortened victory.
Just outside of the top 25 entering the weekend, Long Beach State will face three straight ranked opponents to close the weekend. The Beach will play No. 1 Washington and No. 19 California on Sunday, but starts with No. 12 Auburn Saturday night at 7:30 p.n.
