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Photo by: Scott Quintard
Bittersweet Return For Long Beach State
3/4/2021 7:50:00 PM | Softball
Softball returns to play after nearly a full year without competition.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – An exciting return to play was dampened by two losses as Long Beach State returned to action on the road at San Diego, falling 4-0 in the game one and 3-2 in a walkoff defeat in the second of two games.
The Beach returned to play after a slightly delayed start, taking the field for the first time since March 12, 2020 and entering into action in the third week of the 2021 NCAA season.
In the opener, McKenna Braegelmann got the best of Kellie White in the circle as San Diego (5-8) were able to shut out the Beach in the opener. Braegelmann held the Beach to just one hit, coming in the third inning. Cam Cecil, who started both games at shortstop, doubled to begin the inning, and advanced to third on a deep fly from Sara Olson, but got too aggressive and was caught off of third to stop the rally.
That was the best opportunity for Long Beach State (0-2) in the first game, as Braegelmann finished with eight strikeouts and worked around four walks. White finished with five strikeouts in her first outing of the season, but three straight hits to open the second inning brought home the first run of the game, and a squeeze brought in one more as the Toreros took a 2-0 lead.
An unearned run in the fourth inning and a leadoff single followed by a double from Hayley Hensley brought home the fourth and final run for USD.
Long Beach State struck first in the second game, as true freshman Lilyanna Martinez opened up the third inning with a base hit. The second basemen then advanced with a stolen base, one of three on the day, and then moved to third on a passed ball, coming home on an RBI single from Cecil to put the Beach on top 1-0.
A leadoff single in the third led to a run, the only one allowed by freshman Morgan Quinlan who made her first start of the season, striking out four in 4.0 innings.
Samantha Fowler came on after a leadoff walk from Quinlan in the top of the fifth, and retired the side in order. The Beach then pushed another run across in the sixth with some savvy baserunning, as Alyssa Gonzalez stole second base, and then came home to score after a miscue from Torero centerfielder Mali Benson.
Two strikeouts helped Fowler pick up another scoreless inning in the sixth, but in the bottom of the seventh, Benson singled to start the inning, and after a sacrifice, came home to score on a bunt single by Lauren Hendrickson. A final RBI single from Sofia Delgado gave the Toreros a third run and the walkoff victory.
Long Beach State will return home for three games, first hosting No. 4 UCLA on Saturday before looking to avenge today's losses with a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 9 against San Diego. All three games will be streamed live via Beach Vision.
The Beach returned to play after a slightly delayed start, taking the field for the first time since March 12, 2020 and entering into action in the third week of the 2021 NCAA season.
In the opener, McKenna Braegelmann got the best of Kellie White in the circle as San Diego (5-8) were able to shut out the Beach in the opener. Braegelmann held the Beach to just one hit, coming in the third inning. Cam Cecil, who started both games at shortstop, doubled to begin the inning, and advanced to third on a deep fly from Sara Olson, but got too aggressive and was caught off of third to stop the rally.
That was the best opportunity for Long Beach State (0-2) in the first game, as Braegelmann finished with eight strikeouts and worked around four walks. White finished with five strikeouts in her first outing of the season, but three straight hits to open the second inning brought home the first run of the game, and a squeeze brought in one more as the Toreros took a 2-0 lead.
An unearned run in the fourth inning and a leadoff single followed by a double from Hayley Hensley brought home the fourth and final run for USD.
Long Beach State struck first in the second game, as true freshman Lilyanna Martinez opened up the third inning with a base hit. The second basemen then advanced with a stolen base, one of three on the day, and then moved to third on a passed ball, coming home on an RBI single from Cecil to put the Beach on top 1-0.
A leadoff single in the third led to a run, the only one allowed by freshman Morgan Quinlan who made her first start of the season, striking out four in 4.0 innings.
Samantha Fowler came on after a leadoff walk from Quinlan in the top of the fifth, and retired the side in order. The Beach then pushed another run across in the sixth with some savvy baserunning, as Alyssa Gonzalez stole second base, and then came home to score after a miscue from Torero centerfielder Mali Benson.
Two strikeouts helped Fowler pick up another scoreless inning in the sixth, but in the bottom of the seventh, Benson singled to start the inning, and after a sacrifice, came home to score on a bunt single by Lauren Hendrickson. A final RBI single from Sofia Delgado gave the Toreros a third run and the walkoff victory.
Long Beach State will return home for three games, first hosting No. 4 UCLA on Saturday before looking to avenge today's losses with a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 9 against San Diego. All three games will be streamed live via Beach Vision.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Braegelmann (3-0)
L: White, Kellie (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Cecil, Cam 1
Base Running:
SB: Martinez, Lilyanna 1 ; Ruffin, Maddy 1
HBP: Brookshire, Suzy 1
Batting:
2B: Simms,Rion 1 ; Bjerk,Sophi 1 ; Hensley,Hay 1
RBI: Delgado,Sof 1 ; Hensley,Hay 1 ; Kyler,Halle 2
SH: Kyler,Halle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kaiser,AJ 1 ; Hendrickson 1 ; Delgado,Sof 2
SB: Delgado,Sof 1 ; Benson,Mali 1
HBP: Delgado,Sof 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
0
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
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