Softball To Face Multiple Ranked Foes At Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Friday, February 24

Cathedral City, Calif.

3 p.m.

Long Beach State University

Washington

Photo by: John Fajardo

Softball To Face Multiple Ranked Foes At Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

2/21/2023 9:23:00 AM | Softball

Game Notes - Week 3

The Beach will play four power five opponents during their trip to Cathedral City.

By: Roger Kirk, Associate Athletics Director, Communications & Broadcast

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Head Coach Kim Sowder recorded her 500th career victory at Long Beach State during Sunday's 2-1 victory over Louisiana-Monroe. She ranks fourth in career victories as a member of the Big West all-time, and is one of just 60 active coaches to have recorded 500 career wins.

LEADING OFF
• Long Beach State also debuted the program's new lights at the LBSU Softball Complex, hosting five games during the previous week. The Beach picked up a pair of one-run victories at home, taking down San Diego and ULM as Long Beach State welcomed in near-capacity crowds throughout the week.

• The Beach will continue non-conference action on the road this weekend, once again taking part in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, one of the country's premier non-conference tournaments. Long Beach State is scheduled to face four power five programs as part of the tournament, starting with a ranked matchup with Washington on Friday.

• Sophomore Shannon Haddad has given the Beach a lift in the circle with her return. Coming back after nearly a year and a half, Haddad has posted a 3-1 overall record with a 2.96 ERA, leading the team in both strikeouts and innings pitched on the year. Haddad was the 2021 Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year, posting an 8-0 record with a 2.05 ERA.

• Also joining the squad is sophomore Eryka Gonzales, who led CSUN with 70.2 innings pitched two seasons ago before also taking last season off. Through two weeks, Gonzales has thrown 13.2 innings for Long Beach State with a 3.07 ERA and one save in five appearances.

• The pitching staff looks to be a strength again for Long Beach State in 2023, as LBSU returns all five pitchers from last season, 100% of the team's 333.2 innings pitched in 2022. Second Team All-Big West selection Samantha Fowler and Honorable Mention All-Big West Sophia Fernandez combined for 36 starts last season, and both return along with the rest of the staff in Shelby Frutoz, Mo Quinlan and Addison Kostrencich.

• Making a pair of strong debuts, sophomore transfer Carly Robbins and true freshman Makayla Medellin were both selected for Big West weekly honors after the opening weekend in Tucson. Robbins hit .538 with a .625 on-base percentage over the weekend to be named the Big West Player of the Week, while Medellin hit a pair of home runs and had five RBI over the five games to earn Big West Freshman of the Week.

• Long Beach State has made the most of their speed in the early part of the season with agressive baserunning. Ranking in the Top 10 in the nation in steals per game, the Beach has swiped 13 bases this season, led by junior Lilyanna Martinez who is a perfect 4-for-4 on the year.

PLAYER NOTES
• Senior Samantha Fowler served as the team's top pitcher a year ago, making 32 appearances and leading the Beach with 137.0 innings pitched and 128 strikeouts across 21 starts. In league play, Fowler ranked in the Big West's Top 5 in innings pitched and strikeouts while winning 12 games, second-best in the league, earning second team All-Big West honors. Fowler is off to a strong start in 2023, striking out 9 in a 4-2 win over NC State and posting a 3.73 ERA in five appearances, second on the team in strikeouts.

• Another returning starter, Sophia Fernandez led the team with a 2.45 ERA and led the Big West in conference play with a 1.33 ERA. In 15 starts, Fernandez went 8-5 and finished the year with 58 strikeouts over 103.0 innings pitched, earning Honorable Mention All-Big West.

• Sara Olson is back as the team's top returning hitter. The junior is leading the team with a .343 batting averaged, and has hit two triples to go with a pair of doubles and three stolen bases through 10 games. An Honorable Mention All-Big West selection a season ago, Olson ranks in the program's Top 10 in stolen bases.

• Sophomore Carly Robbins has got off ot a strong start for Long Beach State after transferring to the program from South Carolina. Starting at third base in each game this season, Robbins is second on the team with a .333 batting average and is second on the team in on-base percentage as well.

• Sophomore Corissa Sweet is another player who has started every game for Long Beach State, holding down a spot as the team's designated player. Batting. 296 on the year, Sweet is leading the team with a .441 on-base percentage, walking seven times through two weeks.

• Two other returners have impressed early in the 2023 campaign. Junior Cassie Camou is hitting .308 with a home run and slugging .538 while starting five games at first base, and fifth-year senior Cam Cecil is also hitting .308 with a triple while competing for time in the outfield.

• Graduate transfer Teah Thies has secured a role as Long Beach State's starting catcher, slugging .550 to start the year while playing in eight games, starting seven with a double, a triple and a home run. No stranger to the Big West, Thies starred for UC Santa Barbara before joining the Beach for this season.

• A two-time Big West Freshman Player of the Week in 2022, Jacquelyn Bickar started 50 games at second base in her first season, finishing third on the team in batting at .303 in league play while hitting three doubles, a pair of triples and a home run against Oklahoma. An All-Freshman Team selection, Bickar also earned Honorable Mention All-Big West honors.

• Emily Salazar returns for the Beach after missing the 2022 season due to a knee injury. Salazar started 33 games in 2021, hitting .301 with seven doubles in her last full season, earning All-Big West honors.

• Two true freshman are in the mix for the Beach as well. Selena Perez has earned the nod at shortstop, coming to the Beach as an out-of-state recruit from Chandler, Arizona. Makayla Medellin will likewise press for time in the outfield after a stellar career at Yorba Linda High School.

• Lilyanna Martinez returns to the outfield for Long Beach State. An Honorable Mention All-Big West selection in 2021, Martinez made a late debut in the season, making her first start in late March but ultimately started 19 games, hitting .260 with five RBI and three stolen bases. Martinez hit .351 in 2021 before an injury prematurely ended her season, ending in an extensive rehab that delayed her return in 2022. An outstanding student, Martinez is looking to complete her first full year of competition at the Beach.

THIS AND THAT
• A four-time Big West Coach of the Year selection, Kim Sowder enters her 17th season as head coach at Long Beach State, her Alma Mater, where she was an All-American shortstop. Sowder ranks fourth in career wins as a member of the Big West, and is one of 60 active coaches to have recorded 500 career victories.

• The Beach will again play a strong schedule in 2023. Long Beach State will play six games against team's ranked in the initial coaches poll, as well as eight more against teams receiving votes in the preseason poll.

• After the first win against Cal State Fullerton in the final weekend of the regular season in 2021, Sowder joined Brian Kolze of Pacific, Judi Garman of Cal State Fullerton, and Long Beach State legend Pete Manarino as the only coaches to record 200 conference victories in the Big West.

• In addition to Sowder, Associate Head Coach Panita Thanatharn also played for the program, finishing her career as an All-Big West selection in 2007. Assistant Coach Kevin Castillo begins his seventh year with the program, and is a member of the USA Men's Fastpitch Softball National Team. Mariah Ramirez returns for her fifth season as the team's Volunteer Assistant Coach following a standout career at Utah.

• Long Beach State continues to have continued historical success, and has reached the 20-win mark in 37 straight completed seasons including 2022. Additionally, Long Beach State has competed in 5 Women's College World Series, made the NCAA Tournament 25 times, and claimed 9 Big West titles.