Saturday, April 13
Long Beach, Calif.
1 p.m.
Long Beach State University
5
vs
2
Cal State Fullerton
Photo by: John Fajardo
Coleman, Fry Lead Long Beach State To Doubleheader Split With Cal State Fullerton
4/13/2019 7:10:00 PM | Softball
Fry’s leadoff home run was the only run in a 1-0 shutout from Ashley Coleman in game two.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State recovered from a late stumble in game one for a commanding 1-0 win in the second game of a critical conference series at home against Cal State Fullerton. Nichole Fry's solo home run was the only run of the game in Ashley Coleman's sixth shutout of the season.
Fry scored two of the three runs for Long Beach State (17-20, 4-4 Big West) on the day, picking up three hits including the crucial home run in game two. The senior leadoff hitter kicked off the opening game with a hit as well, a single to center to set up the opening run of the day. Jamie Wren followed with an RBI double, and the Beach looked poised for a big inning. However, Cal State Fullerton (26-15, 6-2 Big West) starter Sophie Frost loaded the bases but got out of the first with no further damage as the Beach led 1-0.
Frost and Kellie White were both in command through four innings. Julia Valenzuela singled with one out for the Titans in the fifth, and Kelise Whitmore doubled but a great throw and relay from Maddy Ruffin to Fry and Justine Briones cut down Valenzuela at the plate, and the Beach held onto the lead.
Long Beach State added an insurance run in the bottom half, as Wren and Alyssa Gonzalez hit back-to-back singles to put a runner in scoring position, and Ruffin came through with an RBI single to make the score 2-0 after five innings.
The opener slipped away from the Beach in the sixth however. Ari Williams started the inning with a single, and the Titans put runners on the corners with one out. A suicide squeeze brought home Williams along with a second out as the Titans pulled within one at 2-1. A hit batter put two runners on, and a grounder to short was fielded by a diving Fry but the flip to get the Beach out of the inning was just out of the reach of Katelyn Hanson, tying the game. A walk loaded the bases, and after a passed ball and a two-run single Alexa Neil the Titans had a 5-2 lead.
Dani Martinez closed out the remaining two innings, not allowing a base-runner as the Titans took game one.
Long Beach State would bounce back right away through in game two. Coleman allowed a one-out double in the first but got out of the inning with a strikeout, and Fry delivered with her 17th career home run and sixth of the season to kick off the first inning for the Beach.
Coleman cruised from there, scattering six hits and striking out a season-high tying seven batters on the way to her sixth shutout of the season, getting some defensive help along the way with a pair of nice defensive plays from Fry at shortstop, including an inning-ending double play in the sixth.
The rivalry series will be settled tomorrow with a late start at the LBSU Softball Complex, as a national TV audience gets the chance to watch the finale beginning at 4 p.m. on ESPNU.
Fry scored two of the three runs for Long Beach State (17-20, 4-4 Big West) on the day, picking up three hits including the crucial home run in game two. The senior leadoff hitter kicked off the opening game with a hit as well, a single to center to set up the opening run of the day. Jamie Wren followed with an RBI double, and the Beach looked poised for a big inning. However, Cal State Fullerton (26-15, 6-2 Big West) starter Sophie Frost loaded the bases but got out of the first with no further damage as the Beach led 1-0.
Frost and Kellie White were both in command through four innings. Julia Valenzuela singled with one out for the Titans in the fifth, and Kelise Whitmore doubled but a great throw and relay from Maddy Ruffin to Fry and Justine Briones cut down Valenzuela at the plate, and the Beach held onto the lead.
You know you want to see this throw! ??????#GoBeach pic.twitter.com/6JObxlEdRf
— LBSU Softball (@LBSUSoftball) April 14, 2019
Long Beach State added an insurance run in the bottom half, as Wren and Alyssa Gonzalez hit back-to-back singles to put a runner in scoring position, and Ruffin came through with an RBI single to make the score 2-0 after five innings.
The opener slipped away from the Beach in the sixth however. Ari Williams started the inning with a single, and the Titans put runners on the corners with one out. A suicide squeeze brought home Williams along with a second out as the Titans pulled within one at 2-1. A hit batter put two runners on, and a grounder to short was fielded by a diving Fry but the flip to get the Beach out of the inning was just out of the reach of Katelyn Hanson, tying the game. A walk loaded the bases, and after a passed ball and a two-run single Alexa Neil the Titans had a 5-2 lead.
Dani Martinez closed out the remaining two innings, not allowing a base-runner as the Titans took game one.
Long Beach State would bounce back right away through in game two. Coleman allowed a one-out double in the first but got out of the inning with a strikeout, and Fry delivered with her 17th career home run and sixth of the season to kick off the first inning for the Beach.
This home run from Nichole Fry would be the only run scored during Ashley Coleman's sixth shutout of the season as Long Beach State dropped Cal State Fullerton 1-0 in game two of Saturday's doubleheader! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/O3hNe124zr
— LBSU Softball (@LBSUSoftball) April 14, 2019
Coleman cruised from there, scattering six hits and striking out a season-high tying seven batters on the way to her sixth shutout of the season, getting some defensive help along the way with a pair of nice defensive plays from Fry at shortstop, including an inning-ending double play in the sixth.
The rivalry series will be settled tomorrow with a late start at the LBSU Softball Complex, as a national TV audience gets the chance to watch the finale beginning at 4 p.m. on ESPNU.
Hear from Nichole Fry after the game two victory! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/BS89OvOeMB
— LBSU Softball (@LBSUSoftball) April 14, 2019
Players Mentioned
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UTL
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