Tuesday, March 9
Long Beach, Calif.
1 p.m.
Long Beach State University
vs
San Diego
Photo by: John Fajardo
Softball Back In Action With Three Scheduled Doubleheaders Starting Tuesday
3/8/2021 12:22:00 PM | Softball
The Beach hosts San Diego on Tuesday at home.
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- After a brief pause, Long Beach State returns to action is scheduled for six games this week, three doubleheaders against San Diego Tuesday, at California Baptist on Thursday and a return home against LMU on Sunday.
LEADING OFF
• COVID-19 protocols cost Long Beach State its first weekend of action as the Beach was scheduled to play Sacramento State and Fresno State each twice in Fresno. LBSU was able to return to action quickly though, and was able to reschedule the doubleheader with USD for one day later. The Beach lost
• A reminder that due to University and Big West guidelines regarding COVID-19, no fans will be allowed in attendance during the 2021 campaign at the LBSU Softball Complex.
• Last March, Long Beach State played in the last Division I competition in the nation. Moving their game with Boston to 9 a.m. due to rain on March 12, LBSU and Boston proceeded with first pitch without fans as March Madness crumbled around the team. Despite a small rain delay, a solo home run from Abby Lockman, a dominant nine-strikeout performance from Kellie White and a walkoff from Breezy Wise allowed the game to finish prior to the nationwide cutoff.
• The NCAA granted eligibility relief for all players in 2020, and so Lnog Beach State will welcome back two key seniors from that team. Breezy Wise led the team in batting average, hitting .380 with a slugging percentage of .600 and a team-high OBP of .456 while starting 17 games in the outfield. Kellie White also returns in the circle, coming off of a season where she went 8-5 with a 1.95 ERA and a Big West leading 78 strikeouts while starting 13 games.
• Long Beach State again had a strong season offensively in 2020 The Beach ranked in the Top 100 teams in the nation hitting .299, the third-highest team batting average in school history. Eight players hit over .300, led by Breezy Wise who finished the season hitting .380.
• For 2021, Long Beach State was again picked to finish second in the Big West by the conference's coaches in advance of the season. The Beach was picked just behind 2019 champions Cal State Fullerton and in front of other contenders UC Davis, Hawai'i and Cal Poly.
• Junior Alyssa Gonzalez earned All-Region and All-Big West honors in 2019, and continued to find success in 2020, batting .338 with a team high 18 RBI. Slugging .481 on the year, "Gonzo" came through in big moments, most notably in the bottom of the seventh against No. 2 Oklahoma, hitting a two-run double to complete a four-run, two-out walkoff comeback against the Sooners.
• Two newcomers that return in 2021 made a big impact last season. Junior Rylie Seip joined the Beach as a junior college transfer, and hit .350 with three doubles and three home runs and driving in 12 RBI. Freshman Sara Olson was fourth in the team in batting at .338, starting 18 games at multiple positions while earning the leadoff position for the team on the year.
PLAYER NOTES
• The Beach received a wave of reinforcements for the 2021 season in four Division I transfers, all of whom will be eligible immediately for LBSU. Cam Cecil joins the Beach with three seasons of elgibility as an infielder from Iowa. The Beach also welcomes three newcomers from San Jose State. Freshman Shannon Haddad posted a 1.00 ERA with an 11-3 record and 79 strikeouts, Senior Suzy Brookshire hit .356 with eight home runs, and Ashley Machado hit .273 while catching many of the 69.2 innings pitched by Haddad.
• Breezy Wise earned a spot in the starting lineup and delivered throughout the year, earning all-tournament honors at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge after hitting .429 with a pair of doubles and five runs scored. That great start continued, and Wise led the team offensively with a slash line of .380/.456/.600, best on the team in batting average and OBP.
• Sophomore Emily Salazar started every game at third base for Long Beach State, joining Gonzalez as the only two players to start every game in 2020. Salazar batted .315 with eight RBI and was second on the team with nine walks.
• Junior Justine Briones played a key role behind the plate this season for the Beach, returning as the team's starting catcher. Briones started 38 games behind the dish in 2019, and was well on her way to more prior to the stoppage in 2020, starting 23 games and driving in 8 RBI.
• Maddy Ruffin delivered in the clutch for Long Beach State in Big West play during 2019, earning honorable mention All-Big West honors in addition to an All-Freshman team selection. In 2020, Ruffin hit .313 and had five walks in addition to playing some outstanding defense in center field.
• Naomi Hernandez returned for the Beach following a tremendous first season at the Beach in 2019. The Big West Freshman of the Year in 2018, Hernandez started 49 games for the Beach and hit .287 and led the team with 25 walks on the year, earning honorable mention All-Big West honors. Hernandez started 19 games in 2020, primarily at second base.
• Two other position players that played a part in the 2020 campaign for the Beach return for this season. Kyra Snyder, a transfer from Louisville, hit .280 with five runs scored in 20 games played in her first season at the Beach, while freshman Kylie Cox made six starts at shortstop for Long Beach State in her first season.
• In addition to Kellie White, Long Beach State returns three other pitchers this season. Sophomore Samantha Fowler had the lowest ERA among LBSU's returning pitchers, and is poised for a breakthrough in her third season at the Beach. Freshman Morgan Quinlan had 16 strikeouts in her first season and boasts a high upside, and Presley Miraglia also returns after pitching 10.1 innings of relief as a sophomore.
• In addition to the Divison I transfers, seven incoming freshmen are set to make their debuts for Long Beach State this season. Cassie Camou, Mikayla Ceballos, Sophia Fernandez, Tiffany Iliff, Addison Kostrencich, Sinclair Lawhorn and Lilyanna Martinez will join the returning freshman class as the Beach will work to fold that class into its competitve roster as the season progresses.
LEADING OFF
• COVID-19 protocols cost Long Beach State its first weekend of action as the Beach was scheduled to play Sacramento State and Fresno State each twice in Fresno. LBSU was able to return to action quickly though, and was able to reschedule the doubleheader with USD for one day later. The Beach lost
• A reminder that due to University and Big West guidelines regarding COVID-19, no fans will be allowed in attendance during the 2021 campaign at the LBSU Softball Complex.
• Last March, Long Beach State played in the last Division I competition in the nation. Moving their game with Boston to 9 a.m. due to rain on March 12, LBSU and Boston proceeded with first pitch without fans as March Madness crumbled around the team. Despite a small rain delay, a solo home run from Abby Lockman, a dominant nine-strikeout performance from Kellie White and a walkoff from Breezy Wise allowed the game to finish prior to the nationwide cutoff.
• The NCAA granted eligibility relief for all players in 2020, and so Lnog Beach State will welcome back two key seniors from that team. Breezy Wise led the team in batting average, hitting .380 with a slugging percentage of .600 and a team-high OBP of .456 while starting 17 games in the outfield. Kellie White also returns in the circle, coming off of a season where she went 8-5 with a 1.95 ERA and a Big West leading 78 strikeouts while starting 13 games.
• Long Beach State again had a strong season offensively in 2020 The Beach ranked in the Top 100 teams in the nation hitting .299, the third-highest team batting average in school history. Eight players hit over .300, led by Breezy Wise who finished the season hitting .380.
• For 2021, Long Beach State was again picked to finish second in the Big West by the conference's coaches in advance of the season. The Beach was picked just behind 2019 champions Cal State Fullerton and in front of other contenders UC Davis, Hawai'i and Cal Poly.
• Junior Alyssa Gonzalez earned All-Region and All-Big West honors in 2019, and continued to find success in 2020, batting .338 with a team high 18 RBI. Slugging .481 on the year, "Gonzo" came through in big moments, most notably in the bottom of the seventh against No. 2 Oklahoma, hitting a two-run double to complete a four-run, two-out walkoff comeback against the Sooners.
• Two newcomers that return in 2021 made a big impact last season. Junior Rylie Seip joined the Beach as a junior college transfer, and hit .350 with three doubles and three home runs and driving in 12 RBI. Freshman Sara Olson was fourth in the team in batting at .338, starting 18 games at multiple positions while earning the leadoff position for the team on the year.
PLAYER NOTES
• The Beach received a wave of reinforcements for the 2021 season in four Division I transfers, all of whom will be eligible immediately for LBSU. Cam Cecil joins the Beach with three seasons of elgibility as an infielder from Iowa. The Beach also welcomes three newcomers from San Jose State. Freshman Shannon Haddad posted a 1.00 ERA with an 11-3 record and 79 strikeouts, Senior Suzy Brookshire hit .356 with eight home runs, and Ashley Machado hit .273 while catching many of the 69.2 innings pitched by Haddad.
• Breezy Wise earned a spot in the starting lineup and delivered throughout the year, earning all-tournament honors at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge after hitting .429 with a pair of doubles and five runs scored. That great start continued, and Wise led the team offensively with a slash line of .380/.456/.600, best on the team in batting average and OBP.
• Sophomore Emily Salazar started every game at third base for Long Beach State, joining Gonzalez as the only two players to start every game in 2020. Salazar batted .315 with eight RBI and was second on the team with nine walks.
• Junior Justine Briones played a key role behind the plate this season for the Beach, returning as the team's starting catcher. Briones started 38 games behind the dish in 2019, and was well on her way to more prior to the stoppage in 2020, starting 23 games and driving in 8 RBI.
• Maddy Ruffin delivered in the clutch for Long Beach State in Big West play during 2019, earning honorable mention All-Big West honors in addition to an All-Freshman team selection. In 2020, Ruffin hit .313 and had five walks in addition to playing some outstanding defense in center field.
• Naomi Hernandez returned for the Beach following a tremendous first season at the Beach in 2019. The Big West Freshman of the Year in 2018, Hernandez started 49 games for the Beach and hit .287 and led the team with 25 walks on the year, earning honorable mention All-Big West honors. Hernandez started 19 games in 2020, primarily at second base.
• Two other position players that played a part in the 2020 campaign for the Beach return for this season. Kyra Snyder, a transfer from Louisville, hit .280 with five runs scored in 20 games played in her first season at the Beach, while freshman Kylie Cox made six starts at shortstop for Long Beach State in her first season.
• In addition to Kellie White, Long Beach State returns three other pitchers this season. Sophomore Samantha Fowler had the lowest ERA among LBSU's returning pitchers, and is poised for a breakthrough in her third season at the Beach. Freshman Morgan Quinlan had 16 strikeouts in her first season and boasts a high upside, and Presley Miraglia also returns after pitching 10.1 innings of relief as a sophomore.
• In addition to the Divison I transfers, seven incoming freshmen are set to make their debuts for Long Beach State this season. Cassie Camou, Mikayla Ceballos, Sophia Fernandez, Tiffany Iliff, Addison Kostrencich, Sinclair Lawhorn and Lilyanna Martinez will join the returning freshman class as the Beach will work to fold that class into its competitve roster as the season progresses.
Players Mentioned
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UTL
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OF
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UTL
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INF
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C
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C
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OF
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P
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OF
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INF
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OF
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