Long Beach State University
12-9, 3-1
UC San Diego
2-17, 0-4
Underclassman Pitchers Key To Walkoff Win To Start Series With UC San Diego
3/13/2025 9:35:00 PM | Softball
Sophomore Kate Barnett pitched four scoreless innings of relief while freshman Maddy Martin had the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh.
UC San Diego (2-17, 0-4 Big West) jumped out to a lead right away. The Tritons opened the game with back-to-back walks, and then two infield groundouts helped Morgan Eng score to take a 1-0 lead. Long Beach State (12-9, 3-1 Big West) answered with some small ball of their own to even the score in the first. Jacquelyn Bickar singled to open the bottom half, and after advancing to second on a groundout and then scored on an RBI single Brooklyn Lee as the Beach tied the score.
With the top of the order up again in the third, the Tritons did more damage to open up the game. Morgan Eng reached on an error, and after stealing second, scored on an overthrow on a bunt single to put UC San Diego back in front. With two on, a single from Zara Wasserman added another run, and a third run came home to score on an RBI groundout to put the Tritons on top 4-1.
Makayla Medellin helped Long Beach State avoid the shutdown inning with a leadoff home run in the third, her second of the season, and the Lee hit her second single of the game against her former school to start a second rally, coming home on an RBI double from Corissa Sweet.
Long Beach State turned to Kate Barnett, who stilled the UCSD bats the rest of the way, striking out two over four mostly uneventful innings, but Tritons starter India Caldwell settled in as well as the Beach went scoreless from the fourth through the sixth.
The top of the order came up for their fourth time in the bottom of the seventh, and the Beach made the most of the opportunity. Bickar was plunked to start the inning, and Rebekah Durazo walked to put two on. Freshman Lina Apodaca was also hit to load the bases, and then Sweet walked to tie the game.
Turning to a pinch hitter, freshman Maddy Martin fell behind 0-2 but worked the count full and then smashed a ball into the gap for the walkoff win.
The series continues with a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 3 p.m. at the LBSU Softball Complex. Live stats will be available at www.beachlivestats.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Barnett, Kate (3-2)
L: India Caldwell (2-8)
Batting:
RBI: Lily Hermosillo 1 ; Zara Wasserman 1 ; Alexa DeMarse 1
SH: Lily Hermosillo 2 ; Haley Garcia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Morgan Eng 2 ; Jaden Hill 1 ; Ryanna Alano 1
SB: Morgan Eng 2 ; Zara Wasserman 1
HBP: Alexis Jimenez 1 ; Lily Hermosillo 1 ; Zara Wasserman 1
Batting:
2B: Sweet, Corissa 1
HR: Medellin, Makayla 1
RBI: Medellin, Makayla 1 ; Lee, Brooklyn 1 ; Sweet, Corissa 2 ; Martin, Maddy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bickar, Jacquelyn 2 ; Medellin, Makayla 1 ; Magadan, Savannah 1 ; Lee, Brooklyn 1
HBP: Bickar, Jacquelyn 1 ; Apodaca, Lina 1 ; Iniguez, Priscilla 1
