Softball Splits Two Games On Day Two In Puerto Vallarta

Friday, February 13

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

4 p.m. CT

Long Beach State University

5-3

UTSA

2-6

UTSA

Long Beach State

2/13/2026 8:36:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

After a loss to UTSA, Long Beach State bounced back with a 5-2 win over Southern Illinois.

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

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Long Beach State split a pair of games from Mexico in their second day of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, falling 7-4 to UTSA before a 5-2 win over Southern Illinois.

Starting the day against UTSA (2-6), Long Beach State (6-3) took an early lead against the Roadrunners. Lina Apodaca started off the top of the first with a double, and after getting pushed to third, scored on a passed ball to give the Beach an early 1-0 lead.

Audrey Lopetegui had three clean innings in the circle to start the game, but UTSA took their first lead in the fourth. Three hits loaded up the bases, and a fourth from Katia Reyes scored a pair as UTSA took a 2-1 lead in the top half of the inning.

Long Beach State rallied straight back, again taking advantage of a leadoff double, this time from Audree Mendoza. A walk to Elissa Guerrero put two on, and after an Erica Estrada single loaded the bases, a double from Nina Sepulveda cleared the bases as the Beach took a 4-2 lead.

The scoring wasn't yet done, as UTSA had a big inning of their own in the top of the fifth. With two on and two outs, Taryn Madlock hit a game-changing home run for the Roadrunners, putting them on top 5-4.

Along with adding two more insurance runs in the seventh, UTSA starter Arlete Hernandez allowed just two hits over the final three innings to keep the Beach off the board and finish a complete game victory in a 7-4 win.

In the nightcap, Long Beach State worked around a huge night from Southern Illinois (7-3) power hitter Sydney Potter to bounce back with a 5-2 win.

Potter had started the season with six home runs in six games, and picked up right away in the leadoff spot with a solo home run to start the game, but Isabella Alsono recovered to set down 2-3-4 in order and the Beach went right to work in the bottom of the inning.

Apodaca drew a leadoff walk, and then Avery Weisbrook hit her second home run of the season to quickly put the Beach on top and LBSU never looked back. Keeping the inning going, Priscilla Iniguez was hit by a pitch, Mendoza walked, and Miranda Gonzalez was also plunked to load the bases. Aggressive baserunning from the Beach then scored two on an infield single and Long Beach State walked away from the first with a 4-1 lead.

Potter's second at-bat was similar to the first, another solo home run to keep SIU in striking distance, but otherwise Alonso was suberb, throwing 4.2 innings and allowing just one additional hit. Electing to intentionally walk Potter, Long Beach State's Lopetegui entered the circle and finished off the inning for the Beach.

Mendoza, who was 2-for-2 with a walk against the Salukis, had driven in an insurance run in the fourth with an RBI single and Long Beach State closed out the win with a little defensive magic. After turning a double play to end the sixth inning, SIU loaded the bases in front of Potter with one out in the seventh. Getting a tapper back to the circle, Lopetegui then started a 1-2-3 double play to end the game in an exciting fashion.

The Beach will play one final game in Mexico, facing Eastern Kentucky one more time with first pitch coming at 8 a.m. PT. Check www.longbeachstate.com for live coverage.