LONG BEACH, Calif. – Battling from behind again, Long Beach State scored six runs in a big third inning in the series finale and closed out their first Big West series taking two games of three from Cal State Bakersfield with a run-rule walkoff to end the day.
Cal State Bakersfield (3-21, 1-2 Big West) opened the scoring in the final game of the series in the third inning, taking advantage of a one-out single and an error to score the first run of the game after winning the first game on Saturday.
Long Beach State (14-10, 2-1 Big West) quickly recovered in the bottom half of the inning. Kali Su’e got things going for the Beach with a walk, and after a stolen base and another walk, Jiselle Hernandez reached to load the bases with no outs. A double from Lina Apodaca scored two, and then singles from Avery Weisbrook and Priscilla Iniguez added two more as the Beach opened up a 4-1 lead.
Hits from Emily Dowden and Audree Mendoza brought home two more runs as the Beach opened up a 6-1 lead after three. A double in the sixth from Hernandez kept the action going, who scored on a base hit from Weisbrook. An error allowed another run to score to push the lead to 8-1, and Nina Sepulveda finished things off with an RBI single to end the game 9-1.
That was plenty of support for Isabella Alonso. The senior was excellent Sunday, throwing a season-high six innings in the first complete game of the year for Long Beach State.
In the opener, Long Beach State got a strong start from Lindsey Cowans, but Cal State Bakersfield pulled away in the fifth on the way to the win. Cowans pitched four scoreless innings, but was matched by Cedes Saldana until the Runners broke through.
Audrey Lopetegui came on at that point, and walked a pair around a single to load the bases, and then Bakersfield scored their first run on an RBI groundout. A single loaded the bases once more, and a hit from Cailee Carr made the score 2-0 with two in scoring position. An error allowed one more home, and after an RBI groundout, a double from Hannah Garcia put the Runners on top 6-0.
Cal State Bakersfield added one more run in the top of the sixth. Moving into the bottom of the seventh, Emily Dowden scored after a leadoff double, coming home on a sacrifice fly from Kali Su’e but Saldana finished off her complete game victory 7-1.
Long Beach State’s homestand continues on Tuesday, March 10 when the Beach hosts North Dakota State at 6 p.m. at the LBSU Softball Complex live on ESPN+.
