Friday, April 26
Long Beach, Calif.
6 p.m.
Long Beach State University
20-26, 15-4
2
vs
1
Hawai'i
18-20, 11-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Hawai'i
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
5
0
Long Beach State
0
0
2
0
0
0
X
2
5
0
Long Beach State Grabs 2-1 Win To Open Hawai’i Series
4/26/2024 8:57:00 PM | Softball
Makayla Medellin’s two-run double in the third inning was the difference for the Beach.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – A two-run double by Makayla Medellin and some resilience in the circle from Sophia Fernandez proved to be the difference in a tight pitching battle between the Beach and Hawai'i as Long Beach State opened a key Big West series with a 2-1 win.
Senior Sophia Fernandez struck out six batters to earn her 11th win of the season for Long Beach State (20-26, 15-4 Big West) who grabbed a critical win Friday night over Hawai'i (18-20, 11-6 Big West) in the first of three games between two of the title contenders as the Big West season winds down.
Fernandez had three strikeouts over the first two innings and then worked out of a jam in the third with a crucial strikeout with the bases loaded to set up the key hit of the game in the bottom half. Selena Perez singled and Jacquelyn Bickar walked to put two on in front of sophomore Makayla Medellin, who delivered again in a big moment with a two-run double off of the wall to give Long Beach State a 2-0 lead.
Hawai'i had one more threat in the fifth inning, as three straight softly hit but well-aimed singles loaded the bases with no outs. Fernandez was able to get a shallow fly for a key first out, and after a sacrifice fly, a groundout from cleanup hitter Haley Johnson ended the inning.
Fernandez set down the final six batters she faced to out-duel former Long Beach State pitcher and Hawai'i ace, Addison Kostrencich. Both pitchers only allowed five hits, and Medellin's double was the only extra-base hit, a key difference that led to the win for the Beach.
The series concludes on Jenna Day as the Beach will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. to decide the series. Both games will be televised live on ESPN+.
Senior Sophia Fernandez struck out six batters to earn her 11th win of the season for Long Beach State (20-26, 15-4 Big West) who grabbed a critical win Friday night over Hawai'i (18-20, 11-6 Big West) in the first of three games between two of the title contenders as the Big West season winds down.
Fernandez had three strikeouts over the first two innings and then worked out of a jam in the third with a crucial strikeout with the bases loaded to set up the key hit of the game in the bottom half. Selena Perez singled and Jacquelyn Bickar walked to put two on in front of sophomore Makayla Medellin, who delivered again in a big moment with a two-run double off of the wall to give Long Beach State a 2-0 lead.
Makayla Medellin off the wall for a two-run double!! Long Beach State takes the first lead. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/J2Kqs0ZBsd
— LBSU Softball ?? (@LBSUSoftball) April 27, 2024
Hawai'i had one more threat in the fifth inning, as three straight softly hit but well-aimed singles loaded the bases with no outs. Fernandez was able to get a shallow fly for a key first out, and after a sacrifice fly, a groundout from cleanup hitter Haley Johnson ended the inning.
Fernandez set down the final six batters she faced to out-duel former Long Beach State pitcher and Hawai'i ace, Addison Kostrencich. Both pitchers only allowed five hits, and Medellin's double was the only extra-base hit, a key difference that led to the win for the Beach.
The series concludes on Jenna Day as the Beach will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. to decide the series. Both games will be televised live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fernandez, Sophia (11-11)
L: Kostrencich, Addison (11-7)
Batting:
RBI: Martinez, Izabella 1
SF: Martinez, Izabella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Muramoto, Madixx 1
Batting:
2B: Medellin, Makayla 1
RBI: Medellin, Makayla 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bickar, Jacquelyn 1 ; Perez, Selena 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
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