The Big West Conference softball championship will be decided at the LBSU Softball Complex this weekend when the Beach hosts Cal State Fullerton. LBSU (27-9, 19-2) is currently two games behind the Titans (38-12, 21-0) in the standings and can steal the conference title with a sweep.
There will be doubleheaders starting at 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The first three games will count in the conference standings. LBSU hasn’t taken a Big West series off CSUF since 2016.
LBSU got prepared for the most important games of its season by hosting PAC-12 programs UCLA and Cal in a pair of doubleheaders last week. The Beach lost both of its games against No. 2 UCLA, but was able to split the double header with Cal thanks to a walk-off win in nine innings.
In the ninth, Sara Olson and Cam Cecil drew walks to put a runner in scoring position, who then scored on a double from Naomi Hernandez. Kyra Snyder then crushed a ball into the gap, scoring Cecil from third to end the contest in a 3-2 win. In the circle, redshirt sophomore Samantha Fowler pitched a nine-inning complete game while striking out eight batters.
Baseball
The Dirtbags (18-13, 16-12) extended their winning streak to five games by sweeping UC Riverside on the road last weekend. LBSU won three consecutive games via shutout for the first time since 2014, and has now 14 straight wins over UCR.
At the plate, sophomore Brennan Rozell went 8-for-14 (.571/.647/.786) with three doubles and six RBI against the Highlanders. On the mound, junior Johnathan Lavellee tossed his first career complete game on Friday while striking out a career-high 13 batters. The LBSU pitching staff put together 32 consecutive scoreless innings over their last two conference series.
The Dirtbags host Cal State Bakersfield this weekend.
Track & Field
Aaron Booth won the Men’s Decathlon Championship at the Big West Multi-Events Championships last week by posting 7,520 points, which is the second-best score in program history. The junior transfer won five of the 11 events, becoming the first LBSU athlete to be crowned Decathlon champion since 2014.
Men’s Golf
LBSU won the Big West Conference Championship team title last week with an 858 for 6-under par. The Beach was the only team to shoot under par in the three-round event and finished seven strokes ahead of second-place UC Davis. It’s the first conference title for LBSU since 2004.
Sophomore Clay Seeber was runner-up individually at 2-under par with a 71 in the final round. Senior Hunter Epson, Tyler Schafer, Hunter Reed and Isaac Rodea all finished in the top seven.
LBSU is back in the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2012. The Beach earned a No. 12 seed in the Cle Elum Regional in Washington.
