Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
24-24, 11-8
CSUN
25-27, 9-10
Softball Slugs Way To Two Victories Over CSUN Friday
5/10/2019 7:07:00 PM | Softball
Long Beach State combined for 15 runs in the two wins over the Matadors.
The start of the day for Long Beach State (25-24, 12-8 Big West) was a little shaky, as CSUN (25-28, 9-11 Big West) loaded the bases on three hits to threaten immediately with one out. Starter Kellie White was able to induce a ground ball double-play to keep the Matadors off of the board.
The Beach then took the lead in the bottom of the season. CSUN's starting pitcher Jillian James walked Alyssa Gonzalez and Taylor Rowland to start the inning, and then Maddy Ruffin brought home the first run of the game with an RBI single after a sacrifice. A popup turned the lineup over with two outs, and Fry delivered with her team-leading eighth home run of the season to give the each a 4-0 lead.
Nichole Fry drills a 3-run homer to left field to give Long Beach State a 4-0 lead over CSUN in the 2nd inning #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/InReD6twBi
— LBSU Softball (@LBSUSoftball) May 10, 2019
Long Beach State added three more in the fifth to open up the game for good. Pinch hitter Breezy Wise was plunked and Fry followed with a double to put two in scoring position. A sac fly from Naomi Hernandez plated the first run of the inning, and after a single by Jamie Wren put runners on the corners, a second sacrifice fly in the inning scored another run and Gonzalez singled to make the score 7-0.
White finished out the shutout, striking out five in her seven innings of work in the opening game.
The second inning got the LBSU offense rolling again in game two. Lauren Lombardi singled to start the inning, and after a walk to Gonzalez, Ruffin dropped a bunt that was misplayed by the Matadors, allowing pinch runner Kasey Hutton to score the first run of the game. An RBI groundout and a single from Justine Briones scored two more as the Beach took a 3-0 lead.
The Matadors scored their first runs in the top of the third, as Kenedee Jamerson doubled to start the inning. CSUN would eventually load the bases, and Kiarra Crockett-Pope singled home a pair to cut the lead to 3-2. A critical strikeout from Ashley Coleman would get the Beach out of the inning with no further damage, and the bats went back to work for LBSU.
Wren hit a leadoff triple to start the third inning, scoring on a single from Lombardi and then the Beach broke out for another big inning in the fourth. Sophomore Katelyn Hanson doubled to start the inning, and scored on a single from Fry. Hernandez followed with a single, and Wren doubled to make the score 6-2. Alyssa Gonzalez then singled to score both Hernandez and Wren and increase the lead to six at 8-2.
Gonzo keeps the rally going! Beach now leads 8-2 after this two-run single. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/g9tE2iLPKX
— LBSU Softball (@LBSUSoftball) May 10, 2019
Jamerson would score once more after a one-out triple in the seventh, but a popup and a groundout to Fry helped the Beach close out the game two victory 8-3, as Coleman finished off the complete game for her 13th win of the season.
Long Beach State wins both games of Friday's doubleheader against CSUN. Be sure to join us tomorrow at 1 p.m. for Senior Day as we say goodbye to our eight seniors in their final home game! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/TxfTmPPJqt
— LBSU Softball (@LBSUSoftball) May 11, 2019
The series win guaranteed that Long Beach State will finish the season .500 or better for the 34th time in the last 36 seasons. The Beach will close out the 2019 season with one final game Saturday at 1 p.m., and will honor their seven seniors with a postgame ceremony.
Hear the thoughts of Senior Nichole Fry after two wins Friday and Senior Day coming up Saturday. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/RWiS3mdMtR
— LBSU Softball (@LBSUSoftball) May 11, 2019
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: White, Kellie (11-10)
L: James, Jillian (18-12)
Batting:
2B: Crockett-Pope,Kiarra 1
SH: Swan, Aaliyah 1
Batting:
2B: Fry, Nichole 1
HR: Fry, Nichole 1
RBI: Fry, Nichole 3 ; Hernandez, Naomi 1 ; Hanson, Katelyn 1 ; Gonzalez, Alyssa 1 ; Ruffin, Maddy 1
SH: McCollum, Sydney 1
SF: Hernandez, Naomi 1 ; Hanson, Katelyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fry, Nichole 2 ; Wren, Jamie 1 ; Gonzalez, Alyssa 1 ; Salazar, Emily 1 ; Ruffin, Maddy 1 ; Wise, Breezy 1
HBP: Wise, Breezy 1
