Rally From Long Beach State Comes Up Just Short Against BYU

Friday, February 20

Cathedral City, Calif.

3 p.m.

Long Beach State University

7-4

BYU

3-9

Long Beach State

BYU

2/20/2026 5:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Isabella Alonso pitched 4.2 innings, allowing one run in the defeat.

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

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Long Beach State took an early lead behind a strong pitching performance from senior Isabella Alonso, but a grand slam from Hailey Shuler turned the tide for BYU in a 5-4 defeat for the Beach to start the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

Pitching controlled the early innings, as neither team had a hit until the top of the third inning. Puerto Vallarta College Challenge MVP stayed hot, getting a rally going with a single. An error put two on, and a wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position.

A diving catch in right field by Shuler saved a run on what would have been a double from Avery Weisbrook, but it was enough to score Sepulveda from third to give Long Beach State (7-4) a 1-0 lead.

Two infield singles in the third gave BYU (3-9) their first hits of the game, but Alonso closed out the frame with a flyout to maintain the lead. Alonso worked a quick fourth inning, and picked up two outs in the fifth before a walk brought up the top of the Cougar order.

With Alonso exiting, a walk put two runners on, and an infield single loaded the bases for BYU. A grounder looked to end the inning, but Lexie Bennett beat the throw to second on a fielder's choice, and the Cougars made the Beach pay on the next pitch, a grand slam from Shuler to give BYU a 5-1 lead after five.

Long Beach State battled back. Hits from Avery Weisbrook and Priscilla Inigiuez put runners on the corners, and then a sacrifice fly from Audrey Mendoza gave the Beach a run in the top of the sixth.

Pinch hitter Emily Dowden and Erica Estrada started off the seventh with a pair of hits, and Nina Sepulveda rapped an RBI single to center field to cut the lead to 5-3 and chase starting pitcher Gianna Mares from the contest.

Relief pitcher Jada Villegas faced the top of the order, and Lina Apodaca hit a bloop single to score another run to cut the lead back to 5-4. Villegas was able to pick up a pair of groundouts to finish off the game for BYU.

Long Beach State's time at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic continues with two games. The Beach will face their first ranked opponent of the season in No. 4 Oklahoma at 10 a.m. before playing Bethune Cookman with a first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m.