Saturday, March 8
Honolulu, Hawaii
4 p.m. PT
Long Beach State University
10-9, 1-1
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Hawai'i
15-9, 1-1
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Long Beach State
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Softball Wins Series With Saturday Doubleheader Sweep
3/8/2025 9:05:00 PM | Softball
Strong pitching from Eryka Gonzales, Kate Barnett combined with great hitting led the Beach to a series win.
HONOLULU, Hawaii – Long Beach State opened up the Big West Conference slate with a series win after winning both games of Saturday's doubleheader on the road at Hawai'i, 8-3 in the opener before a 9-1 mercy win in six innings to close the series.
In the opening game, Long Beach State (11-9, 2-1 Big West) went straight to work, with senior Jacquelyn Bickar hitting a leadoff home run to put the Beach in front 1-0. Makayla Medellin reached on an error to keep the rally going, and after a hit batter and bloop single loaded the bases with the three batters after Bickar's home run, a walk to Malayna Terrones brought in a second run for the Beach.
Hawai'i (15-10, 1-2 Big West) evened the score with a two-run home run from Jamie McGaughy in the bottom half, and took a 3-2 lead in the second. Ellyanna Cinzori walked to start the inning, and after two wild pitches from Nally, scored on an RBI single from Kayara Tuiloma to put the Rainbow Wahine in front.
A shock return from Eryka Gonzales helped Long Beach State turn things around. A 2023 All-Big West selection, Gonzales saw her season end prematurely last season and hadn't pitched in 2025, but returned to the circle and struck out four across five scoreless innings against Hawai'i, setting the stage for a comeback from the Beach.
In the top of the fifth, Bickar doubled for her second hit of the game, and Medellin smashed a home run to left for her first homer of the year to put the Beach back in front 4-3.
With Gonzales continuing to throw up zeroes, the Beach broke the game open with the top of the lineup up again in the seventh. Bickar singled followed by a double from Medellin, and a walk to Durazo loaded the bases with no outs. Brooklyn Lee drew a bases-loaded walk for the first run of the inning, and singles from Lina Apodaca and Avery Weisbrook scored two more as the Beach finished off an 8-3 win in game one.
Sophomore Kate Barnett went the distance in her second start this season as the Beach won in six innings in game two. Barnett allowed just one run, coming in the fifth inning well after the Beach had established a big lead while tying a career high with five strikeouts.
That was plenty of defensive support for the Beach offense that scored in four out of the six innings to claim the win. Rebekah Durazo singled in front of Brooklyn Lee in the first inning, whose double allowed the senior catcher to score giving the Beach an early lead.
Freshman Lina Apodaca started another rally in the second inning with a leadoff single, and after getting pushed to second, scored on an RBI double from Carly Robbins. The left side of the infield traded places with another RBI double from Selena Perez and the Beach went on top 3-0.
A two-run home run from Perez with Corissa Sweet on board added two more in the fourth inning, and Medellin finished off the run-rule win with a bases loaded, bases clearing double in the sixth inning as part of a four-run inning on the way to the 9-1 victory.
Long Beach State returns home next week as Big West play continues, hosting UC San Diego in a three-game series starting Thursday, March 13 with the opening game broadcast live on ESPN+.
In the opening game, Long Beach State (11-9, 2-1 Big West) went straight to work, with senior Jacquelyn Bickar hitting a leadoff home run to put the Beach in front 1-0. Makayla Medellin reached on an error to keep the rally going, and after a hit batter and bloop single loaded the bases with the three batters after Bickar's home run, a walk to Malayna Terrones brought in a second run for the Beach.
Hawai'i (15-10, 1-2 Big West) evened the score with a two-run home run from Jamie McGaughy in the bottom half, and took a 3-2 lead in the second. Ellyanna Cinzori walked to start the inning, and after two wild pitches from Nally, scored on an RBI single from Kayara Tuiloma to put the Rainbow Wahine in front.
A shock return from Eryka Gonzales helped Long Beach State turn things around. A 2023 All-Big West selection, Gonzales saw her season end prematurely last season and hadn't pitched in 2025, but returned to the circle and struck out four across five scoreless innings against Hawai'i, setting the stage for a comeback from the Beach.
In the top of the fifth, Bickar doubled for her second hit of the game, and Medellin smashed a home run to left for her first homer of the year to put the Beach back in front 4-3.
With Gonzales continuing to throw up zeroes, the Beach broke the game open with the top of the lineup up again in the seventh. Bickar singled followed by a double from Medellin, and a walk to Durazo loaded the bases with no outs. Brooklyn Lee drew a bases-loaded walk for the first run of the inning, and singles from Lina Apodaca and Avery Weisbrook scored two more as the Beach finished off an 8-3 win in game one.
Sophomore Kate Barnett went the distance in her second start this season as the Beach won in six innings in game two. Barnett allowed just one run, coming in the fifth inning well after the Beach had established a big lead while tying a career high with five strikeouts.
That was plenty of defensive support for the Beach offense that scored in four out of the six innings to claim the win. Rebekah Durazo singled in front of Brooklyn Lee in the first inning, whose double allowed the senior catcher to score giving the Beach an early lead.
Freshman Lina Apodaca started another rally in the second inning with a leadoff single, and after getting pushed to second, scored on an RBI double from Carly Robbins. The left side of the infield traded places with another RBI double from Selena Perez and the Beach went on top 3-0.
A two-run home run from Perez with Corissa Sweet on board added two more in the fourth inning, and Medellin finished off the run-rule win with a bases loaded, bases clearing double in the sixth inning as part of a four-run inning on the way to the 9-1 victory.
Long Beach State returns home next week as Big West play continues, hosting UC San Diego in a three-game series starting Thursday, March 13 with the opening game broadcast live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gonzales, Eryka (1-0)
L: Brandl, Macy (6-4)
Batting:
2B: Bickar, Jacquelyn 1 ; Medellin, Makayla 1
HR: Bickar, Jacquelyn 1 ; Medellin, Makayla 1
RBI: Bickar, Jacquelyn 1 ; Medellin, Makayla 2 ; Lee, Brooklyn 1 ; Apodaca, Lina 1 ; Terrones, Malayna 1 ; Weisbrook, Avery 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bickar, Jacquelyn 3 ; Medellin, Makayla 3 ; Sweet, Corissa 1 ; Lee, Brooklyn 1
HBP: Durazo, Rebekah 1
Batting:
2B: McGaughey, Jamie 1
HR: McGaughey, Jamie 1
RBI: McGaughey, Jamie 2 ; Tuiloma, Kayara 1
SH: Gibbs, Maycen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Martinez, Izabella 1 ; McGaughey, Jamie 1 ; Cinzori, Ellyanna 1
CS: Borges, Chloe 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C/OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
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