Softball Begins Packed Week With Seven Games Tuesday

Tuesday, March 7

Riverside, Calif.

6 p.m.

Long Beach State University

California Baptist

Photo by: John Fajardo

3/7/2023 9:38:00 AM | Softball

Game Notes - Week 5

The Beach will play at CBU then return to the LBSU Softball Complex for the Louisville Slugger Invitational.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State begins their busiest week of the year, with seven games scheduled in the next seven days. The week kicks off with a road game at California Baptist, before the team returns to host their annual tournament, the Louisville Slugger Invitational, beginning on Thursday, March 9.

LEADING OFF
• The LBSU Softball Complex is scheduled to play host 14 games over the five-day tournament, with Long Beach State taking part in 6 as the Beach continues to take advantage of their new lights at the facility.

• The program debuted the new lights at the LBSU Softball Complex starting on Wednesday, February 15, hosting five games as part of the Wilson Invitational. 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.

• 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 won four games with a 3.61 ERA while facing most of the team's top opponents. Haddad leads 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 impressing early is sophomore Eryka Gonzales, who led CSUN with 70.2 innings pitched two seasons ago before also taking last season off. Gonzales is second on the team in EAR and innings pitched over eight appearances and two starts on the year.

• 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.

• Medellin earned Freshman of the Week honors for a second time after the four games in San Diego, as she hit a team-leading .385 with a pair of doubles, including a 3-for-3 day against Boston on March 4.

• Long Beach State has made the most of their speed in the early part of the season with agressive baserunning. The Beach has swiped 21 bases this season, led by junior Lilyanna Martinez who is a perfect 9-for-9 on the year and ranks in the NCAA's Top 100 in stole bases.

• Kim Sowder and the Beach coaching staff are still giving plenty of opportunities offensively, with 14 players getting 10 or more at-bats over the first 19 games.

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. She currently sits second on the team in strikeouts with 20.

• 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 all but one game this season, Robbins is second on the team with a .292 batting average and is also second on the team in on-base percentage at .385 on the year.

• Graduate transfer Teah Thies has secured a role as Long Beach State's starting catcher, slugging a team-best .500 with two home runs, two triples and a double. No stranger to the Big West, Thies starred for UC Santa Barbara before joining the Beach for this season.

• Sophomore Corissa Sweet is another player who has played in every game for Long Beach State, holding down a spot as the team's most regular designated player. Batting .273 on the year, Sweet also leads the team with seven walks on the year.

• Junior Sinclair Lawhorn leads Long Beach State with a .304 batting average, part of a trio of juniors who have been competing at first base for the Beach. Mikayla Ceballos is batting .250 and hit the go-ahead home run against Utah Valley, while Cassie Camou also has a home run on the year while starting in eight games.

• Jacquelyn Bickar hit two home runs in San Diego, including the program's first grand slam since the 2021 season in a comeback win over Montana. 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.

• Fifth-year senior Cam Cecil has returned to the program and is currently fourth on the team with a .261 batting average, while junior Sara Olson is another experienced veteran, with three stolen bases on the year, two doubles and two triples while driving in four RBI.

• 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.