Saturday, April 6
La Jolla, Calif.
1 p.m.
Long Beach State University
13-24, 0
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at
1
UC San Diego
13-22, 0
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4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Long Beach State
0
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UC San Diego
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X
1
5
0
Long Beach State Softball Earns Series Win Against UC San Diego
4/6/2024 5:55:00 PM | Softball
Jocylyn Vidal’s seventh-inning grand slam in the second game secured the win and the series for the Beach.
LA JOLLA, Calif. – Jocylyn Vidal's seventh-inning grand slam capped a comeback win in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader as the Beach salvaged a series win on the road at UC San Diego with a split from La Jolla.
Strong pitching was the story of the opening game as India Caldwell for UC San Diego (13-23, 6-5 Big West) and Sophia Fernandez of Long Beach State (14-24, 9-3 Big West) went zero for zero in a pair of complete game outings. Neither pitcher allowed a run through the first five innings, and neither team saw a base-runner past second-base over that time frame as the pitchers were fully in command.
The game turned on a single run in the sixth inning. Speedster Morgan Eng beach out an infield single to start the bottom half, and after a stolen base and a sacrifice, scored on a sacrifice fly from Brooklyn Lee to give the Tritons a 1-0 lead. Caldwell then finished off the seventh inning with a trio of outs with Eng making a sliding catch in foul ground in left field to close the game.
That pair combined to score the first run of game two. Eng singled to start the bottom of the first, and after a fielder's choice, a single from Lee scored Denna Pederson to put the Tritons in front 1-0.
Long Beach State had an opportunity in the fourth inning, as Savannah Magadan worked a one-out walk, and then a single by Sinclair Lawhorn put runners on the corners for the Beach. A ground ball led to a close play at the plate, but Magadan was deemed out and kept the Tritons in the lead.
Two extra-base hits helped UCSD extend their lead in the bottom of the fourth, as Alexa DeMarse doubled and while Barnett grabbed a key out, a Zoe Richards triple gave the Tritons a key insurance run.
Carly Robbins opened the fifth inning with a single, and after a sacrifice a deep fly ball was dropped in center field by UC San Diego, allowing Robbins to score easily and putting Sara Olson on third. Olson then scored on a groundout from Jacquelyn Bickar, tying the game at 2-2.
The Beach continued to threaten in the seventh. Olson worked a leadoff walk, and Makayla Medellin reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners. Caldwell picked up a second out, but a second walk, this time to Lawhorn loaded the bases, and Vidal's second home run of the series, a grand slam absolutely smashed to left field gave the Beach a 6-2 lead.
Freshman Kate Barnett finished off her first career complete game for her fourth win of the season, helped by a game-ending double play from Selena Perez as the Beach earned the doubleheader split.
Long Beach State will return to the LBSU Softball Complex next week, hosting a three-game series with UC Santa Barbara starting Friday, April 12 at 6 p.m.
Strong pitching was the story of the opening game as India Caldwell for UC San Diego (13-23, 6-5 Big West) and Sophia Fernandez of Long Beach State (14-24, 9-3 Big West) went zero for zero in a pair of complete game outings. Neither pitcher allowed a run through the first five innings, and neither team saw a base-runner past second-base over that time frame as the pitchers were fully in command.
The game turned on a single run in the sixth inning. Speedster Morgan Eng beach out an infield single to start the bottom half, and after a stolen base and a sacrifice, scored on a sacrifice fly from Brooklyn Lee to give the Tritons a 1-0 lead. Caldwell then finished off the seventh inning with a trio of outs with Eng making a sliding catch in foul ground in left field to close the game.
That pair combined to score the first run of game two. Eng singled to start the bottom of the first, and after a fielder's choice, a single from Lee scored Denna Pederson to put the Tritons in front 1-0.
Long Beach State had an opportunity in the fourth inning, as Savannah Magadan worked a one-out walk, and then a single by Sinclair Lawhorn put runners on the corners for the Beach. A ground ball led to a close play at the plate, but Magadan was deemed out and kept the Tritons in the lead.
Two extra-base hits helped UCSD extend their lead in the bottom of the fourth, as Alexa DeMarse doubled and while Barnett grabbed a key out, a Zoe Richards triple gave the Tritons a key insurance run.
Carly Robbins opened the fifth inning with a single, and after a sacrifice a deep fly ball was dropped in center field by UC San Diego, allowing Robbins to score easily and putting Sara Olson on third. Olson then scored on a groundout from Jacquelyn Bickar, tying the game at 2-2.
The Beach continued to threaten in the seventh. Olson worked a leadoff walk, and Makayla Medellin reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners. Caldwell picked up a second out, but a second walk, this time to Lawhorn loaded the bases, and Vidal's second home run of the series, a grand slam absolutely smashed to left field gave the Beach a 6-2 lead.
Touch 'em all Jocylyn Vida!! A NO DOUBT grand slam from the senior gives @LBSUSoftball their first lead of the day!! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/BYAMXVYcwH
— LBSU Softball ?? (@LBSUSoftball) April 7, 2024
Freshman Kate Barnett finished off her first career complete game for her fourth win of the season, helped by a game-ending double play from Selena Perez as the Beach earned the doubleheader split.
Long Beach State will return to the LBSU Softball Complex next week, hosting a three-game series with UC Santa Barbara starting Friday, April 12 at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Caldwell, India (10-7)
L: Fernandez, Sophia (8-10)
Batting:
RBI: Lee, Brooklyn 1
SH: Pederson, Deena 1
SF: Lee, Brooklyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Eng, Morgan 1
SB: Eng, Morgan 1 ; DeMarse, Alexa 1
CS: Hassis, Marissa 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
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