Long Beach State University
15-24, 10-3
UC Santa Barbara
13-21, 7-6
Softball Wins Two In Thrilling Fashion Against UC Santa Barbara
4/12/2024 9:41:00 PM | Softball
Sophia Fernandez was dominant in a 2-1 win prior to an exciting come-from-behind victory in the nightcap.
In the first game, senior Sophia Fernandez retired the first eight batters she faced and only allowed two hits in a 2-1 win. The lone run for UC Santa Barbara (13-22, 7-7 Big West) came when those two hits were combined, as Madalyn McNally singled to start the inning, was pushed to second and then came home to score on an RBI double from Ashley Donaldson. Fernandez didn't allow another hit the rest of the way, and matched a career-high with seven strikeouts.
Long Beach State (16-24, 11-3 Big West) grabbed an early lead in support of Fernandez. Makayla Medellin was ruled safe at third via obstruction after a two-out double, and Rebekah Durazo doubled herself to score the sophomore and give the Beach a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Sara Olson then worked a leadoff walk in the third inning and scored on a single from Durazo as the Beach took a 2-0 lead that would hold the rest of the way.
The Beach also took an early lead in the second game, as Jacquelyn Bickar hit her first home run of the year, smacking off the foul pole in left field to put the Beach on top 1-0 after the first inning.
The Gauchos took their first lead of the series taking advantage of three straight hits, but a rundown helped the Beach get out of the inning with limited damage. LBSU then quickly rebounded, scoring Corissa Sweet on a double from Sara Olson to tie the game at 2-2.
A walk and two bunts that reached loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth inning, but a pair of clutch strikeouts from Mo Quinlan helped the Beach limit the damage in the top of the fifth, escaping the jam with just one run allowed as UCSB moved back on top 3-2.
Down to their final three outs, the Beach had the top of the order up in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the group delivered as Olson and Bickar responded with back-to-back singles. Erica Estrada beat out a bunt single to load the bases with no outs, and the Beach cashed in as Jocylyn Vidal worked a bases loaded walk and Cassie Camou lofted a deep fly ball to easily score Bickar and end the game in a 4-3 walkoff win.
AGAIN!! @LBSUSoftball with another walkoff as Cassie Camou hits a sac fly with the bases loaded!!! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/rqzIO276lu
— LBSU Softball ?? (@LBSUSoftball) April 13, 2024
The series will finish against UC Santa Barbara with an earlier time frame to try and beat rain coming in the day, similar to the change that moved the doubleheader to Friday. First pitch for the finale is now scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday morning.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Quinlan, Mo (1-3)
L: Malaya Johnson (3-5)
Batting:
2B: Alexa Sams 1 ; Elicia Acosta 1
RBI: Emily Carr 1 ; Elicia Acosta 1
SH: Madelyn McNally 1 ; Tehya Banks 1 ; Erin Mendoza 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alexa Sams 1 ; Emily Carr 1 ; Tehya Banks 1
Batting:
2B: Olson, Sara 1
HR: Bickar, Jacquelyn 1
RBI: Olson, Sara 1 ; Bickar, Jacquelyn 1 ; Vidal, Jocylyn 1 ; Camou, Cassie 1
SH: Robbins, Carly 1
SF: Camou, Cassie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Olson, Sara 1 ; Bickar, Jacquelyn 2 ; Sweet, Corissa 1
SB: Olson, Sara 1
HBP: Durazo, Rebekah 1
