Saturday, March 26
Long Beach, Calif.
1 p.m.
Long Beach State University
5
vs
4
UC Davis
Photo by: John Fajardo
Beach Rallies Twice For Two Thrilling Wins Against UC Davis
3/26/2022 6:40:00 PM | Softball
Long Beach State came back from three-run and four-run deficits in a pair of wins over the Aggies.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – UC Davis took first-inning leads in both games of Saturday's doubleheader, but it was the Beach who had the last laugh in both games, rallying for a 5-4 win in game one before walking off against the Aggies in game two, 6-5.
Sarah Starks had a huge game for UC Davis (12-15, 1-4 Big West) in the opener, lifting the Aggies into an early lead with a two-run home run after the first inning. Anna Dethlefson then tripled before coming around to score to give UC Davis a 3-0 lead.
Kenedi Brown finished with eight strikeouts for UC Davis, and limited the Beach to two hits over the first four innings, but ran into trouble before getting undone by her defense in the fifth. Lilyanna Martinez and Savannah Magadan hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, and after getting pushed over, a dropped fly ball kept two on and brought home the first run of the game for the Beach. With the bases loaded, Kyra Snyder then hit a bases-clearing double to give the Beach the lead, and a second dropped fly ball led to a crucial fifth run.
Starks hit her second home run of the game, a solo home run to cut into the lead, but Samantha Fowler was able to work out of the sixth inning on the way to the win courtesy of her ninth strikeout, and Shelby Frutoz closed out the game for her second save of the season behind two spectacular plays at shortstop from Marissa Caballero.
Frutoz got the nod in the circle in the second game, but ran into early trouble with the big hit coming on a two-run single from Libbie McMahan as UC Davis took a 4-0 lead after the top of the first.
Long Beach State (14-15, 4-1 Big West) would chip away and eventually come back all the way a second time in the second game. Naomi Hernandez opened the bottom of the first with a single, and after a walk to Corissa Sweet, Snyder came up with another big hit, driving in two runs as part of five RBI in the day for the senior.
Jacquelyn Bickar scored after hitting a one-out triple in the second inning, coming around to score, and the Beach tied the game in the fourth inning as Sara Olson scored on an RBI single from Ashleigh Inae.
The Aggies scored in the fifth inning after a leadoff error put a runner on second base after a sacrifice hit and sacrifice fly, setting the stage for one more comeback for the Beach. In the sixth, Olson stole second and scored on a single for the second time in the game to tie the game for the second time, and then the Beach pushed in front for the first and only time in the bottom of the seventh.
Martinez doubled to center field with one out, and after advancing to third on a ground out, the sophomore would easily score on a single from Bickar to end the day with a thrilling 6-5 win.
Sophia Fernandez was in command to pick up the win in game two. The sophomore scattered three hits over six innings, allowing just one unearned run.
The Beach will go for the sweep in the series finale on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with live coverage on ESPN+.
Sarah Starks had a huge game for UC Davis (12-15, 1-4 Big West) in the opener, lifting the Aggies into an early lead with a two-run home run after the first inning. Anna Dethlefson then tripled before coming around to score to give UC Davis a 3-0 lead.
Kenedi Brown finished with eight strikeouts for UC Davis, and limited the Beach to two hits over the first four innings, but ran into trouble before getting undone by her defense in the fifth. Lilyanna Martinez and Savannah Magadan hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, and after getting pushed over, a dropped fly ball kept two on and brought home the first run of the game for the Beach. With the bases loaded, Kyra Snyder then hit a bases-clearing double to give the Beach the lead, and a second dropped fly ball led to a crucial fifth run.
Starks hit her second home run of the game, a solo home run to cut into the lead, but Samantha Fowler was able to work out of the sixth inning on the way to the win courtesy of her ninth strikeout, and Shelby Frutoz closed out the game for her second save of the season behind two spectacular plays at shortstop from Marissa Caballero.
Marissa Caballero ends it with this fantastic play! Beach takes game one 5-4! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/te9WEurQLW
— LBSU Softball (@LBSUSoftball) March 26, 2022
Frutoz got the nod in the circle in the second game, but ran into early trouble with the big hit coming on a two-run single from Libbie McMahan as UC Davis took a 4-0 lead after the top of the first.
Long Beach State (14-15, 4-1 Big West) would chip away and eventually come back all the way a second time in the second game. Naomi Hernandez opened the bottom of the first with a single, and after a walk to Corissa Sweet, Snyder came up with another big hit, driving in two runs as part of five RBI in the day for the senior.
Jacquelyn Bickar scored after hitting a one-out triple in the second inning, coming around to score, and the Beach tied the game in the fourth inning as Sara Olson scored on an RBI single from Ashleigh Inae.
The Aggies scored in the fifth inning after a leadoff error put a runner on second base after a sacrifice hit and sacrifice fly, setting the stage for one more comeback for the Beach. In the sixth, Olson stole second and scored on a single for the second time in the game to tie the game for the second time, and then the Beach pushed in front for the first and only time in the bottom of the seventh.
Martinez doubled to center field with one out, and after advancing to third on a ground out, the sophomore would easily score on a single from Bickar to end the day with a thrilling 6-5 win.
Walk me off Jacquelyn Bickar!! Beach takes both against UC Davis on Saturday! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/rfFQYXCUaR
— LBSU Softball (@LBSUSoftball) March 27, 2022
Sophia Fernandez was in command to pick up the win in game two. The sophomore scattered three hits over six innings, allowing just one unearned run.
The Beach will go for the sweep in the series finale on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with live coverage on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ 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
