Long Beach State University
2-13
Michigan
10-5
Long Beach State Rallies For Extra Inning Walkoff Win Over Michigan
2/28/2024 10:02:00 PM | Softball
Corissa Sweet drove in both the tying run in the seventh and the winning run in the ninth for Long Beach State.
Down two runs entering the bottom of the seventh, Long Beach State (2-13) pulled to within one, taking advantage of an error in left field to cut the lead back to 6-5. A Michigan (10-5) error loaded the bases with one out, and Sweet came on as a pinch hitter, lifting a sac fly to score Lilyanna Martinez to tie the game at 6-6.
Two innings later, the same group combined for more magic. Martinez singled to start the inning, and after stealing second, Jacquelyn Bickar laid down a perfect bunt to move the senior to third base. Sweet then came up with two outs and beat out a chopper down the third base line, easily scoring Martinez to give the Beach a comeback win.
Sophia Fernandez collected the win with a solid relief outing, seeing just one baserunner after closing out the top of the seventh and then keeping Michigan off of the board over the extra innings.
Eryka Gonzales got the start for Long Beach State and except for a triple and an error bringing home one run in the first inning, worked around trouble over the first four innings. The Beach then grabbed the lead as freshman Malayna Terrones smashed her first collegiate home run to left field in the bottom of the second with a runner on to put Long Beach State on top 2-1.
In the fifth, a sacrifice fly scored a tying run for Michigan, and then the Wolverines' top hitter Maddie Erickson hit a two-run home run to put the Wolverines in front for the second time on the night at 4-2.
The Beach had an answer though, as Bickar started the bottom of the sixth with a walk and a stolen base. After Bickar came around to score on a double from Sara Olson, the speedy senior raced home on a single from Carly Robbins to tie the game at 4. Another home run in the seventh inning, this time from Jenissa Conway, set the stage for Long Beach State's comeback after providing Michigan a 6-4 edge.
A busy week continues for Long Beach State at the Judy Garman Classic in Fullerton starting tomorrow when the Beach faces No. 17 Texas A&M and Florida to continue their path down the most difficult schedule in the nation this season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fernandez, Sophia (1-5)
L: George, Hannah (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Erickson, Maddie 1
3B: Conway, Jenissa 1
HR: Conway, Jenissa 1 ; Erickson, Maddie 1
RBI: Conway, Jenissa 3 ; Erickson, Maddie 2
SH: Sieler, Ellie 1 ; McVey, Ella 1
SF: Conway, Jenissa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Conway, Jenissa 2 ; Erickson, Maddie 1 ; Dellamonica, Lexi 1 ; Ilacqua, Janelle 1 ; McVey, Ella 1
CS: Ramey, Madi 1
Batting:
2B: Olson, Sara 2
HR: Terrones, Malayna 1
RBI: Olson, Sara 1 ; Robbins, Carly 1 ; Terrones, Malayna 2 ; Sweet, Corissa 2
SH: Bickar, Jacquelyn 2
SF: Sweet, Corissa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Olson, Sara 1 ; Barajas, Jaeden 1 ; Martinez, Lilyanna 3 ; Bickar, Jacquelyn 1 ; Terrones, Malayna 1
SB: Martinez, Lilyanna 1 ; Bickar, Jacquelyn 2
HBP: Robbins, Carly 1 ; Ceballos, Mikayla 1 ; Gonzales, KaLeena 1 ; Barajas, Jaeden 1 ; Martinez, Lilyanna 1 ; Vidal, Jocylyn 1
