Long Beach State Softball Begins 2023 Campaign At Arizona Candrea Classic

Thursday, February 9

Tucson, Ariz.

2 p.m. PT

Long Beach State University

Kansas

Photo by: John Fajardo

Long Beach State Softball Begins 2023 Campaign At Arizona Candrea Classic

2/7/2023 10:30:00 AM | Softball

Game Notes - Week 1

The Beach will face Kansas, NC State and the host Wildcats in Tucson.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State softball begins the season with a road trip, taking part in a tournament in Tucson for the second straight season. The Beach will had a pair of games against Kansas, including the season opener, one game against NC State and two against the hosts, No. 12 Arizona to kick off the season starting on Thursday, February 9.

LEADING OFF
• The Beach finished last season with a 29-22 record, and placed second in the Big West, just missing out on a postseason berth. Long Beach State had a 2.31 ERA in conference play, and led the conference in batting average against at .211.

• The pitching staff looks to be a strength again for Long Beach State in the coming season, 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.

• That quintet will be joined by two collegiate veterans. Shannon Haddad returns for the Beach and will play a big role in the circle for LBSU this year. The 2021 Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year, Haddad had an 8-0 record with a 2.05 ERA in 13 appearances before missing nearly a year and a half with injury, but has fully rehabbed and is set to go for this season. 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Long Beach State returns six offensive starters as well as 2021 Honorable Mention All-Big West selection Emily Salazar who missed last season as a medical redshirt. Outfielder Sara Olson and infielder Jacquelyn Bickar are also returning All-Big West selections for Long Beach State.

• 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.

PLAYER NOTES
• Junior Sara Olson is back as the team's top returning hitter from a season ago. Off to a fast start after earning All-Tournament Team honors at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, Olson finished third on the team with a .299 batting average, and led the team with 12 stolen bases, ranking sixth in single-season history at LBSU while making 49 starts. Olson earned Honorable Mention All-Big West honors after a consistent campaign.

• 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.

• Senior Cam Cecil has made a position switch and will compete for time in the outfield. Cecil hit .293 while making 38 starts in the infield during the 2021 season. Sophomore Corissa Sweet also returns from the outfield group. Sweet hit .274 as a true freshman, splitting her time between right field and designated player.

• A two-time Big West Freshman Player of the Week, 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 Division I transfers are set to make their debut in the infield this season for Long Beach State as well. Carly Robbins is a local product from Los Alamitos High School who returned after the pandemic season with South Carolina and is slated to start the season at third base, while veteran Big West catcher Teah Thies has joined the Beach as a graduate transfer from UC Santa Barbara, where she played over 150 games and earned All-Big West honors in 2021.

• 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.

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 the coach is closing in on 500 career wins as the skipper of the Beach, now four away.

• After the first win against Cal State Fullerton in the final weekend of the regular season in 2021, Sowder joined Pete 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.