Long Beach State Closes Non-Conference Schedule With 5-2 Loss To No. 5 UCLA

Tuesday, April 23

Long Beach, Calif.

6 p.m.

Long Beach State University

19-26

UCLA

28-9

UCLA

Long Beach State

Long Beach State Closes Non-Conference Schedule With 5-2 Loss To No. 5 UCLA

4/23/2024 9:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Selena Perez, Sinclair Lawhorn each had an RBI in the defeat to the Bruins.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. – In a rescheduled game from earlier this month, Sinclair Lawhorn's fifth inning RBI double tied the game with No. 5 UCLA 2-2, but the Bruins had one final answer to extend their winning streak and hold off the Beach 5-2.

                Kate Barnett had a quick first inning against the Bruins, but UCLA (28-9) struck first in the second. Taylor Stephens started off the inning with a leadoff double, and following a sacrifice, an RBI single from Savannah Pola put UCLA on top 1-0.

                Long Beach State (19-26) had a quick response in the bottom half. A hit batter and a pair of block singles loaded the bases, and then Selena Perez smacked a single to right field to even the score at 1-1.

                A solo home run by Maya Brady put the Bruins back in front, but the Beach kept UCLA off the board in the fourth and fifth innings and squared up the game once more in the bottom of the fifth. Makayla Medellin started the rally with a one-out single, and then raced home from first on a double to the wall in left from Lawhorn to tie the game at 2-2.

                A two-run home run from Sharlize Palacios put the Bruins in front for good, however, and an additional unearned run led to the 5-2 final score Tuesday night.

                Kate Barnett had a pair of strikeouts in the five-inning start, as did reliever Mo Quinlan in her two innings of work.

                Long Beach State's homestand continues this weekend when the Beach hosts Hawai'i. First pitch for the opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday night prior to a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday. All three games will be broadcast live on ESPN+.