Softball Remains On Road For CSUN Series Starting Friday

Friday, April 2

Northridge, Calif.

1 p.m.

Long Beach State University

CSUN

Photo by: John Fajardo

3/31/2021 1:18:00 PM | Softball

Game Notes - CSUN

The Beach starts the week on top of the Big West Conference standings.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State remains on the road and looking to maintain its momentum in a three-game series at CSUN starting on Friday, April 2. After a single opening game Friday afternoon, the series is set to conclude with a doubleheader on Saturday. All three games will be broadcast live via BigWest.TV.

LEADING OFF
• Two wins on the road at UC Davis gave the Beach a second straight series win and kept Long Beach State on top of the Big West standings, a half-game in front of idle Cal State Fullerton. The Aggies held on to take the final game 3-2, but the Beach improved to 9-5 on the year.

• Long Beach State has had outstanding pitching on the year, and leads the Big West as well as ranking 11th overall nationally with a 1.47 team ERA. Of the team's five losses, four have come by just one run and the Beach are paced by Kellie White and Shannon Haddad, who have pitched over 90 percent of the teams available innings and each have an ERA under 1.50.

• In last Monday's finale against UC Riverside, Suzy Brookshire etched her name in the Long Beach State record books, going 3-for-3 with a trio of home runs, the first player in the 41-year history of Beach Softball to hit three home runs in a game.

• Those efforts from Haddad and Brookshire led the duo to claim two of the Big West weekly honors, as Brookshire was named Player of the Week and Haddad took home Pitcher of the Week honors awarded by the conference on March 29.

• That gives LBSU two pitching awards, as senior Kellie White was named the Big West Pitcher of the Week on March 15 for her role in a perfect 4-0 week. White pitched a complete game shutout with 10 strikeouts against San Diego, and then came back and didn't allow an earned run in another complete game against LMU. On the week, White went 2-0 with 12 strikeouts and allowed just five hits over 13.0 innings pitched.

• After the NCAA announced blanket 2020 eligibilty relief, White was one of the major senior contributors who returned to the Beach after a strong start to last season. White leads the Beach in innings pitched and strikeouts so far in 2021, and has posted a 5-3 record with a Big West best 1.18 ERA.

• Also returning as a senior and playing a big role has been Breezy Wise. After hitting .380 to lead the team last season, Wise has played every game in 2021 and is averaging .289 with four doubles and eight RBI.

• 2019 All-Region and All-Big West selection Alyssa Gonzalez continues to shine for the Beach. After leading the team with 18 RBI and crucial hits such as a walkoff double against No. 2 Oklahoma one year ago, Gonzalez leads the squad with a .395 batting average and is reaching base at a .489 clip, walking eight times on the year.

• A reminder that due to City of Long Beach guidelines regarding COVID-19, no fans will be allowed in attendance during the 2021 campaign at the LBSU Softball Complex.

PLAYER NOTES
• A wave of Division I transfers have stepped in an played a key role in 2021 for Long Beach State, as all four are making a big impact.

• Freshman Shannon Haddad has made five starts for the Beach and has posted an unbeaten 4-0 record with a 1.44 ERA and 24 strikeouts, making a dangerous 1-2 punch in the circle with Kellie White. Haddad went 11-2 with a 1.00 ERA in 2020 with San Jose State.

• Suzy Brookshire has cemented her role in the heart of the lineup with Gonzalez and Wise. Hitting .341, Brookshire leads the team with five home runs and 19 RBI, and is slugging .805 as another dangerous hitter for the Beach. Also coming from San Jose State is catcher Ashley Machado, who has started 11 games behind the plate and crushed a key home run against Loyola Marmount.

• Cam Cecil has started every game of the season at shortstop for Long Beach State, making just two errors while batting .333, among the team leaders. Cecil is second on the team with 11 RBI and has six extra-base hits on the year.

• The Big West Freshman of the Year in 2018, Naomi Hernandez has returned and has assumed a starting role in 2021 as a junior. Hitting .353, Hernandez is second in the Big West with a .500 on-base percentage and is looking to recapture the form that saw her previously earn multiple All-Big West selections.

• In center field, the Beach has two strong options who are vying for the position. Sara Olson led Long Beach State in batting one season ago, and after a late start has returned to the team and has started nine games. Meanwhile Maddy Ruffin, an outstanding fielder has started seven games and has three stolen bases in addition to a pair of outfield assists.

• Other returners of note include sophomore Emily Salazar, who has started six games this season after starting every game in 2020. Justine Briones returns after starting as the catcher last year, and 2020 transfers Rylie Seip and Kyra Snyder have both made starts at DP this year and are active with the team.

• In addition to Kellie White, Long Beach State returns three other pitchers this season. Morgan Quinlan has made one start and two appearances on the year, striking out six in six innings, while Samantha Fowler also returns after posting the lowest ERA one season ago among LBSU's returning pitchers. Presley Miraglia also returns after pitching 10.1 innings of relief as a sophomore.

• Lilyanna Martinez has been a bright spot among the true freshman who have joined the program this season. Martinez has made eight starts and is hitting .304 as well as showcasing her speed on the basepaths, a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts. Sophia Fernandez has also had a strong start at the plate, hitting .375 with a pair of walks in 10 plate appearances.

• Other freshmen looking to establish their role in the coming season include Cassie Camou, Mikayla Ceballos, Tiffany Iliff, Addison Kostrencich and Sinclair Lawhorn.