Friday, May 12
Long Beach, Calif.
7 p.m.
Long Beach State University
29-21, 19-6
3
vs
2
Cal State Fullerton
33-17, 20-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Cal State Fullerton
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
3
1
Long Beach State
2
0
0
0
0
1
X
3
7
2
Photo by: Diego Devia @Devia.Img
Softball Wins Critical Opening Game, Sets Up Winner Take All Final Day
5/12/2023 10:25:00 PM | Softball
Shannon Haddad allowed three hits, out-dueling Myka Sutherlin in the first game with Cal State Fullerton.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – With a national television audience, Long Beach State picked up the first of three wins the Beach will need against Cal State Fullerton with the Big West Championship on the line on Friday night. Shannon Haddad gave up three hits in a complete game, while Long Beach State jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 3-2 win.
Long Beach State (29-21, 19-6) entered the final series of the year needing a sweep of Cal State Fullerton (33-17, 20-5 Big West) to retake the top spot in the Big West standings, and Friday night's matchup featured two of the best pitchers in the league in Myka Sutherlin and Shannon Haddad.
Haddad worked a quick first inning, and Long Beach State did some early damage against Sutherlin. Sara Olson doubled to start the bottom of the first inning for the Beach. Jacquelyn Bickar followed with a bunt single, and Makayla Medellin grabbed a third straight hit to give the Beach an early lead. Lilyanna Martinez cracked a fourth single in the inning to make the score 2-0.
Sutherlin would recover, striking out six in total on the night, and held the Beach off the board over the next four innings, while Haddad had an easy second and third. A leadoff walk would end Haddad's scoreless streak, as Hannah Becerra came around to score with the help of a pair of errors to cut the Beach lead in half.
Long Beach State added what would be a critical insurance run in the sixth. Senior Cam Cecil singled with one out, and after taking second on a wild pitch, scored on a pinch hit single from Sinclair Lawhorn to make the score 3-1.Haddad, who had only allowed t wo hits through six innings, got touched for a solo home run by Sophia Guevara, but recovered quickly with two groundouts to finish off her complete game and claim her 12th win of the season.
It's senior day on Saturday as the regular season comes to a close with two more games between the Beach and the Titans. For the third year in a row, the Big West Championship will be decided on the final day between the two teams. First pitch for the first game of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m., with live coverage of both games coming on ESPN+.
Long Beach State (29-21, 19-6) entered the final series of the year needing a sweep of Cal State Fullerton (33-17, 20-5 Big West) to retake the top spot in the Big West standings, and Friday night's matchup featured two of the best pitchers in the league in Myka Sutherlin and Shannon Haddad.
Haddad worked a quick first inning, and Long Beach State did some early damage against Sutherlin. Sara Olson doubled to start the bottom of the first inning for the Beach. Jacquelyn Bickar followed with a bunt single, and Makayla Medellin grabbed a third straight hit to give the Beach an early lead. Lilyanna Martinez cracked a fourth single in the inning to make the score 2-0.
Sutherlin would recover, striking out six in total on the night, and held the Beach off the board over the next four innings, while Haddad had an easy second and third. A leadoff walk would end Haddad's scoreless streak, as Hannah Becerra came around to score with the help of a pair of errors to cut the Beach lead in half.
Long Beach State added what would be a critical insurance run in the sixth. Senior Cam Cecil singled with one out, and after taking second on a wild pitch, scored on a pinch hit single from Sinclair Lawhorn to make the score 3-1.Haddad, who had only allowed t wo hits through six innings, got touched for a solo home run by Sophia Guevara, but recovered quickly with two groundouts to finish off her complete game and claim her 12th win of the season.
It's senior day on Saturday as the regular season comes to a close with two more games between the Beach and the Titans. For the third year in a row, the Big West Championship will be decided on the final day between the two teams. First pitch for the first game of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m., with live coverage of both games coming on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Haddad, Shannon (12-9)
L: Myka Sutherlin (19-8)
Batting:
2B: Hannah Becerra 1
HR: Sophia Guevara 1
RBI: Sophia Guevara 1
SH: Daisy Munoz 2 ; Jessi Alcala 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hannah Becerra 1 ; Sophia Guevara 1
SB: Maggie Paulovich 1
Batting:
2B: Olson, Sara 1 ; Bickar, Jacquelyn 1
RBI: Medellin, Makayla 1 ; Martinez, Lilyanna 1 ; Lawhorn, Sinclair 1
SH: Medellin, Makayla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Olson, Sara 1 ; Bickar, Jacquelyn 1 ; Cecil, Cam 1
SB: Martinez, Lilyanna 1
HBP: Thies, Teah 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ 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
