Saturday, April 20
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
1 p.m.
Long Beach State University
17-25, 12-4
0
at
2
Cal Poly
22-12, 12-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Long Beach State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
Cal Poly
0
0
0
1
1
0
X
2
4
0
Long Beach State, Cal Poly Split Doubleheader To Start Series
4/20/2024 6:19:00 PM | Softball
Makayla Medellin had five hits across the doubleheader for Long Beach State.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Long Beach State held on for a thrilling 3-2 victory after falling 2-0 in the first game, splitting the first two games of a three-game series between two Big West title challengers from Cal Poly on Saturday.
Long Beach State (18-25, 13-4 Big West) had an early opportunity to take the lead in the opening game in the third inning. Sara Olson and Jacquelyn Bickar worked back-to-back walks with one out to threaten the Mustangs, but after a groundout pushed both runners into scoring position, a fly out ended the inning to keep the first game scoreless.
Sophia Fernandez set down Cal Poly (22-13, 12-4 Big West) in order through the first three innings in the first trip through the lineup. Mustangs star Jessica Clements broke up the perfect game in the fourth though with a leadoff triple. The Beach got Xiara Diaz to pop up for a critical out, but a bloop single from Kiara Blanchard put the Mustangs on top 1-0.
Another leadoff hit helped Cal Poly extend their lead in the fifth inning, as Mylina Garza reached on a single and then scored on an RBI double from Julia Barnett. A Medellin single followed by Durazo getting hit by a pitch gave the Beach multiple runners again in the sixth, but the Beach couldn't cash in a big hit and the score remained 2-0.
The Beach had one more chance in the top of the seventh, as Long Beach State loaded the bases but Ramuno's seventh strikeout of the game finished off the shutout in the win for Cal Poly.
In the second game, Long Beach State jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning. Jaquelyn Bickar worked a walk and then scored from first on a Makayla Medellin double. The sophomore then scored on an error to give the Beach a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
Cal Poly scratched across a run in the second inning. Julia Barnett reached on an error before turning over to a pinch runner. After a bunt pushed the runner to second, a single up the middle brought the run home in a close play at the plate, ruled safe despite a fantastic throw from center field by Medellin.
Kate Barnett settled in for Long Beach State, and the Beach finally pushed across an insurance run in the sixth. Corissa Sweet started the inning reaching on a two-base error, and the junior came around to score as Sara Olson beat out an infield single to make the score 3-1.
That run would be critical as Cal Poly quickly answered back in the bottom half. After a quick out, back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Mustangs. A wild pitch brought home a run and another walk kept the bases loaded, but Mo Quinlan was able to induce a pair of groundouts to the Beach out of the frame still with a 3-2 lead.
Quinlan finished off the save in the bottom of the seventh in support of Barnet who grabbed her fifth win of the season. The teams will return to Bob Janssen Field to finish off the series Sunday with a first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN+
Long Beach State (18-25, 13-4 Big West) had an early opportunity to take the lead in the opening game in the third inning. Sara Olson and Jacquelyn Bickar worked back-to-back walks with one out to threaten the Mustangs, but after a groundout pushed both runners into scoring position, a fly out ended the inning to keep the first game scoreless.
Sophia Fernandez set down Cal Poly (22-13, 12-4 Big West) in order through the first three innings in the first trip through the lineup. Mustangs star Jessica Clements broke up the perfect game in the fourth though with a leadoff triple. The Beach got Xiara Diaz to pop up for a critical out, but a bloop single from Kiara Blanchard put the Mustangs on top 1-0.
Another leadoff hit helped Cal Poly extend their lead in the fifth inning, as Mylina Garza reached on a single and then scored on an RBI double from Julia Barnett. A Medellin single followed by Durazo getting hit by a pitch gave the Beach multiple runners again in the sixth, but the Beach couldn't cash in a big hit and the score remained 2-0.
The Beach had one more chance in the top of the seventh, as Long Beach State loaded the bases but Ramuno's seventh strikeout of the game finished off the shutout in the win for Cal Poly.
In the second game, Long Beach State jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning. Jaquelyn Bickar worked a walk and then scored from first on a Makayla Medellin double. The sophomore then scored on an error to give the Beach a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
Cal Poly scratched across a run in the second inning. Julia Barnett reached on an error before turning over to a pinch runner. After a bunt pushed the runner to second, a single up the middle brought the run home in a close play at the plate, ruled safe despite a fantastic throw from center field by Medellin.
Kate Barnett settled in for Long Beach State, and the Beach finally pushed across an insurance run in the sixth. Corissa Sweet started the inning reaching on a two-base error, and the junior came around to score as Sara Olson beat out an infield single to make the score 3-1.
That run would be critical as Cal Poly quickly answered back in the bottom half. After a quick out, back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Mustangs. A wild pitch brought home a run and another walk kept the bases loaded, but Mo Quinlan was able to induce a pair of groundouts to the Beach out of the frame still with a 3-2 lead.
Quinlan finished off the save in the bottom of the seventh in support of Barnet who grabbed her fifth win of the season. The teams will return to Bob Janssen Field to finish off the series Sunday with a first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN+
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sophia, Ramuno (9-7)
L: Fernandez, Sophia (9-11)
Base Running:
HBP: Durazo, Rebekah 1 ; Ceballos, Mikayla 1
Batting:
2B: Barnett, Julia 1
3B: Clements, Jessica 1
RBI: Blanchard, Kiara 1 ; Barnett, Julia 1
SH: Barrett, Kai 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Clements, Jessica 1 ; Contapay, Jade 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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