Saturday, April 15
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Noon
Long Beach State University
3
at
6
UC Santa Barbara
Photo by: Diego Devia @Devia.Img
Softball Rebounds To Split Doubleheader At UC Santa Barbara
4/15/2023 5:08:00 PM | Softball
The Beach rebounded from a sloppy first game with a dominant second, setting up a crucial game three Sunday.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Leaning on an outstanding pitching performance from Shannon Haddad and a two-run home run from Sara Olson, the Beach grabbed a 5-0 win in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader after four errors led to a 6-3 defeat in the opener.
Graduate transfer Teah Thies, returning to Isla Vista for the first time since her graduation from UCSB got the action started in game one with a solo home run, her first of the year to give Long Beach State (20-18, 10-4 Big West) a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
UC Santa Barbara (23-12, 10-4 Big West) answered straight back in the bottom half of the inning. With two runners on after a walk and a hit batter, an error brought home a run for the Gauchos to even the score at 1-1. Fowler was able to recover through, and finished off the inning with no further damage, leaving the bases loaded in the second.
Jacquelyn Bickar kicked off the third with a double off of the wall, and would break the tie after scoring on an RBI single from Makayla Medellin. Fowler worked a quick third, but the Gauchos came alive in the fourth. After UCSB got their first hit, the Beach completed a great play to cut down a run at the plate after a triple from Korie Thomas, but a bloop single from Sam Denehy tied the game and then a two-run home run from Ashley Donaldson put UCSB on top 4-2 after the fourth.
Long Beach State pulled back a run in the top of the sixth, as Cam Cecil led off the inning with a pinch hit single and ultimately was pushed around to score on a sacrifice fly from Rebekah Durazo. More errors from the Beach in the bottom of the sixth let UCSB increase their lead however, scoring two more to lead to the 6-3 final.
In game two, Long Beach State took the first lead by scoring in the second inning with a two-out rally. Bickar kept the inning alive with a single, and after a second hit from Medellin, Lilyanna Martinez hit an RBI single to put the Beach in front 1-0.
The Beach added two more runs in the fifth, as Martinez picked up her second hit of the game and Sara Olson smashed a two-run home run to center field, her second of the season to give LBSU a 3-0 lead. In the seventh, Long Beach State added two more runs. Olson singled to start the inning, and with a walk to Cecil putting two on, Corissa Sweet doubled into the gap to push the lead to 5-0 for the Beach.
Meanwhile Shannon Haddad was spectacular in the circle for Long Beach State. After giving up a soft bloop single to Madelyn McNally to start the game, Haddad would retire the next 18 batters in order. Haddad would give up just one more hit, striking out nine and finishing off her fifth complete game shutout of the season.
Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara will decide the series with one final game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with live coverage available through ESPN+.
Graduate transfer Teah Thies, returning to Isla Vista for the first time since her graduation from UCSB got the action started in game one with a solo home run, her first of the year to give Long Beach State (20-18, 10-4 Big West) a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
UC Santa Barbara (23-12, 10-4 Big West) answered straight back in the bottom half of the inning. With two runners on after a walk and a hit batter, an error brought home a run for the Gauchos to even the score at 1-1. Fowler was able to recover through, and finished off the inning with no further damage, leaving the bases loaded in the second.
Jacquelyn Bickar kicked off the third with a double off of the wall, and would break the tie after scoring on an RBI single from Makayla Medellin. Fowler worked a quick third, but the Gauchos came alive in the fourth. After UCSB got their first hit, the Beach completed a great play to cut down a run at the plate after a triple from Korie Thomas, but a bloop single from Sam Denehy tied the game and then a two-run home run from Ashley Donaldson put UCSB on top 4-2 after the fourth.
Long Beach State pulled back a run in the top of the sixth, as Cam Cecil led off the inning with a pinch hit single and ultimately was pushed around to score on a sacrifice fly from Rebekah Durazo. More errors from the Beach in the bottom of the sixth let UCSB increase their lead however, scoring two more to lead to the 6-3 final.
In game two, Long Beach State took the first lead by scoring in the second inning with a two-out rally. Bickar kept the inning alive with a single, and after a second hit from Medellin, Lilyanna Martinez hit an RBI single to put the Beach in front 1-0.
The Beach added two more runs in the fifth, as Martinez picked up her second hit of the game and Sara Olson smashed a two-run home run to center field, her second of the season to give LBSU a 3-0 lead. In the seventh, Long Beach State added two more runs. Olson singled to start the inning, and with a walk to Cecil putting two on, Corissa Sweet doubled into the gap to push the lead to 5-0 for the Beach.
Meanwhile Shannon Haddad was spectacular in the circle for Long Beach State. After giving up a soft bloop single to Madelyn McNally to start the game, Haddad would retire the next 18 batters in order. Haddad would give up just one more hit, striking out nine and finishing off her fifth complete game shutout of the season.
Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara will decide the series with one final game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with live coverage available through ESPN+.
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