Iowa State Rallies To Defeat Softball In Final Game At Puerto Vallarta Collegiate Challenge

Sunday, February 11

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

7:30 a.m. PT

Long Beach State University

0-4

Iowa State

2-2

Iowa State

Long Beach State

Iowa State Rallies To Defeat Softball In Final Game At Puerto Vallarta Collegiate Challenge

2/11/2024 10:33:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Long Beach State’s seventh inning answer comes up just short.

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

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – A two-RBI double from Lilyanna Martinez capped a three-run third inning for Long Beach State giving the Beach an early lead, but Iowa State chipped away and used a big seventh inning to come away with a 7-5 win in the final game of the Puerto Vallarta Collegiate Challenge.

                Long Beach State (0-4) had their big inning in the third. Jacquelyn Bickar got the frame started with a single up the middle. Bickar then stole her first bag of the season to move into scoring position, and then came home to score on a hard-hit grounder from Sinclair Lawhorn.

                Jocylyn Vidal followed with a single to put two on, and senior Lilyanna Martinez doubled down the right field line to score both and give Long Beach State a 3-0 lead.

                Iowa State (2-2) began their comeback trail with a solo home run from Milaysia Ochoa in the fifth inning, and then got another solo shot from Carli Spelhaug in the sixth inning as the Cyclones pulled to within one run.

                In the top of the seventh, pinch hitter Isabelle Nosan tied the game to start the frame with a third solo home run. With the momentum, the Cyclones were able to load the bases, and then a two-run single squeezed past Bickar at second to give Iowa State the lead. The Cyclones then added two more insurance runs before Sophia Fernandez entered and was able to shut down the big inning with a strikeout.

                Long Beach State refused to give up though. Bickar picked up her third hit of the game to start the seventh inning, and Medellin followed with a single to put two own for the Beach. An RBI groundout plated one to make the score 7-4, and the Jocylyn Vidal tripled to bring the tying run to the plate with one out. Saya Swain was able to grab the final two outs and hang onto the win though for Iowa State.

                Long Beach State continues tournament action at the Bear Down Fiesta in Tucson next week with five games. The Beach will play the hosts, Arizona, twice as well as taking on Omaha in back-to-back games, bookending a contest with No. 12 Arkansas. Long Beach State's games against the Wildcats will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks, while FloSoftball will have the remaining trio.