Long Beach State Softball Picked To Finish First In Big West

Long Beach State Softball Picked To Finish First In Big West

1/30/2025 12:59:00 PM | Softball

Seniors Jacquelyn Bickar and Shannon Haddad were named Preseason All-Big West for the favorites.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State was picked to finish first in the Big West during the upcoming 2025 season by the league's coaches as announced by the conference office today. Seniors Jacquelyn Bickar and Shannon Haddad were selected as Preseason All-Big West, as the former All-Big West selections lead the team into the new season.

Big West Announcement

                Long Beach State is loaded with pitching, as the Beach brings back two former All-Big West selections in Shannon Haddad and Eryka Gonzales each return to the circle after season-ending injuries, joined by All-Freshman team selection Kate Barnett, graduate transfer Lindsey Cowans and two promising freshmen, Brynne Nally and Maddy Martin.

                Offensively, the Beach return three seniors in Jacquelyn Bickar, Carly Robbins and Rebekah Durazo, another group that features multiple returning All-Big West selections in that trio along with junior Makayla Medellin.

                With 16 total returners and 11 talented newcomers, Long Beach State received nine out of ten first place votes, the clear favorite for the league in front of Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara for the upcoming season.

                Haddad and Bickar were both selected for the 11-member preseason All-Big West team by the coaches as well. Haddad saw her season end early, but the 2021 Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year and 2023 First Team All-Big West selection is looking to make a big return in 2025. Additionally, Bickar, a career .285 hitter, returns for her fourth season as a starter. The 2023 First Team All-Big West selection has 30 career stolen bases, ranking in the program's Top 10 entering her final competitive season.

                Long Beach State will open up the season on the road February 6 at the Stanford Invitational, kicking off a packed start to the season that will see Long Beach State play 12 games in 10 days to start the season. The Beach will host No. 2 Oklahoma in their home opener on Sunday, February 9 with an early start time of 11 a.m. in the morning.