Saturday, April 10
Long Beach, Calif.
1 p.m.
Long Beach State University
vs
UC San Diego
Photo by: John Fajardo
Softball Returns Home To Face UC San Diego For First Time
4/7/2021 8:43:00 AM | Softball
The Beach is a perfect 7-0 at home this season.
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State will try to keep its record unblemished at home in a busy weekend at the LBSU Softball Complex, hosting UC San Diego for the first time as the new Big West members come to Long Beach.
LEADING OFF
• The series will feature a pair of doubleheaders, the first Saturday at 1 p.m. with the second starting Sunday at 11 a.m. Only the first three games will count towards the conference standings, with the final game being added and played as a non-conference game under 2021 exceptions.
• Long Beach State has had outstanding pitching on the year, and leads the Big West as well as ranking 7th overall nationally with a 1.41 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 1.20. The duo rank 1-2 in ERA in all games and 1-2 in strikeouts in Big West play.
• Long Beach State was dominant in a sweep on the road at CSUN, outscoring the Matadors 24-3 over the three game series. The wins improved LBSU's Big West record to 8-1, keeping the Beach a half-game in front of 6-0 Cal State Fullerton. Alyssa Gonzalez hit .583 with a three-run home run, and Shannon Haddad went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 20 strikeouts as the pair swept the Big West Player, Pitcher and Freshman of the Week awards.
• In the series 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 three 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.
• A reminder that due to City of Long Beach guidelines regarding COVID-19, fans remain unable to attend games at the LBSU Softball Complex.
PLAYER NOTES
• After the NCAA announced blanket 2020 eligibilty relief, Kellie 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 6-3 record with a Big West best 1.07 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 .298 with four doubles, two triples and 10 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 .440 batting average and is reaching base at a .508 clip, walking eight times on the year. The junior is slugging .580 and has 13 RBI, tied for second on LBSU.
• 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 seven starts for the Beach and has posted an unbeaten 6-0 record with a 1.14 ERA and 44 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 .365, Brookshire leads the team with five home runs and 20 RBI, and is slugging .750 as another dangerous hitter for the Beach. Also coming from San Jose State is catcher Ashley Machado, who has started 13 games behind the plate and crushed a key home run against Loyola Marymount.
• Cam Cecil has started every game of the season at shortstop for Long Beach State, making just two errors while batting .318, among the team leaders. Cecil is tied for second on the team with 13 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 returned to the form that saw her earn national attention that season. Hitting .381, Hernandez leads the Big West with a .536 on-base percentage with 12 walks, putting her in contention to again earn postseason All-Big West hardware.
• 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 12 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 nine games this season after starting every game in 2020 and is now hitting .333 with an eight-game hitting streak. 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.
LEADING OFF
• The series will feature a pair of doubleheaders, the first Saturday at 1 p.m. with the second starting Sunday at 11 a.m. Only the first three games will count towards the conference standings, with the final game being added and played as a non-conference game under 2021 exceptions.
• Long Beach State has had outstanding pitching on the year, and leads the Big West as well as ranking 7th overall nationally with a 1.41 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 1.20. The duo rank 1-2 in ERA in all games and 1-2 in strikeouts in Big West play.
• Long Beach State was dominant in a sweep on the road at CSUN, outscoring the Matadors 24-3 over the three game series. The wins improved LBSU's Big West record to 8-1, keeping the Beach a half-game in front of 6-0 Cal State Fullerton. Alyssa Gonzalez hit .583 with a three-run home run, and Shannon Haddad went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 20 strikeouts as the pair swept the Big West Player, Pitcher and Freshman of the Week awards.
• In the series 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 three 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.
• A reminder that due to City of Long Beach guidelines regarding COVID-19, fans remain unable to attend games at the LBSU Softball Complex.
PLAYER NOTES
• After the NCAA announced blanket 2020 eligibilty relief, Kellie 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 6-3 record with a Big West best 1.07 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 .298 with four doubles, two triples and 10 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 .440 batting average and is reaching base at a .508 clip, walking eight times on the year. The junior is slugging .580 and has 13 RBI, tied for second on LBSU.
• 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 seven starts for the Beach and has posted an unbeaten 6-0 record with a 1.14 ERA and 44 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 .365, Brookshire leads the team with five home runs and 20 RBI, and is slugging .750 as another dangerous hitter for the Beach. Also coming from San Jose State is catcher Ashley Machado, who has started 13 games behind the plate and crushed a key home run against Loyola Marymount.
• Cam Cecil has started every game of the season at shortstop for Long Beach State, making just two errors while batting .318, among the team leaders. Cecil is tied for second on the team with 13 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 returned to the form that saw her earn national attention that season. Hitting .381, Hernandez leads the Big West with a .536 on-base percentage with 12 walks, putting her in contention to again earn postseason All-Big West hardware.
• 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 12 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 nine games this season after starting every game in 2020 and is now hitting .333 with an eight-game hitting streak. 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.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballSoftball Game Highlights vs California Baptist 3/20/2024
Thursday, March 21
Long Beach State Wins Big West Dennis Farrell Commissioner's Cup
Wednesday, May 31
NCAA Stanford Regional Postgame Comments - Long Beach State Softball
Saturday, May 20
60 Seconds at The Beach: Softball Nichole Fry
Monday, July 11
