Freshmen Lauren Lombardi of Long Beach State and Cal Poly’s Sierra Hyland notched Big West Softball Field Player and Pitcher of the Week honors following clutch performances during the final weekend of conference play.
Lombardi’s Power Display Spurs 49ers To Title
Long Beach State freshman Lauren Lombardi (Santa Clarita, Calif./West Ranch HS) unloaded a pair of crucial home runs in a winner-take-all series against UC Santa Barbara for the conference title, earning Big West Softball Field Player of the Week honors.
Lombardi batted .500 (6-for-12) with three runs scored and six RBI as she nearly accounted for half of Long Beach State’s total runs (20) in the series. Her two homers – her fifth and sixth of the year – helped the 49er designated player post a 1.000 slugging percentage.
She had the game-winning homer in Friday’s opener. With the score tied 5-5 in the seventh, Lombardi delivered a two-run shot to give the 49ers the 7-5 victory. She finished the game 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI.
With the Big West championship and an automatic berth to NCAA Regionals on the line, Lombardi stepped up in the clutch once again to give LBSU a dramatic, 10-9 victory in nine innings. She helped pull the 49ers out of an early 6-0 hole with an eight-run fourth inning. Lombardi started the inning with a single and came around to score on another base knock. Long Beach State continued to rally, and with the deficit whittled to 6-5, Lombardi provided the crushing blow with her second grand slam of the season to put the 49ers on top, 9-6.
The Gauchos mustered a rally of their own to tie the game 9-9. However, Lombardi opened the top half of the ninth with her third hit of the afternoon, and a pinch runner eventually plated the winning run. Lombardi ended the day 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and four RBI.
Others nominated: Sierra Hyland (Cal Poly); Missy Taukeiaho (Cal State Fullerton); Kimberly Pena (UC Davis); Shelby Wisdom (UC Santa Barbara); Leisha Li’ili’i (Hawai‘i)
Hyland Tallies Sixth Pitcher Of The Week Honor
Cal Poly’s Sierra Hyland (Visalia, Calif./El Diamante HS) capped off a record-breaking freshman season with her sixth Big West Softball Pitcher of the Week selection, tossing 19.1 innings of scoreless ball against UC Riverside.
One of 10 finalists for the inaugural NFCA Freshman of the Year award, Hyland hurled her 11th and 12th shutouts to lead the Mustangs to two victories. She tossed 5.1 innings of four-hit relief in a 2-1, game two loss.
Hyland finished the campaign atop several Cal Poly single season categories – innings pitched (264.1), appearances (42), starts (34), shutouts (12) and strikeouts (263). In addition, she finished second with 26 victories and sixth in ERA (1.51). Her 26 wins led all freshmen nationally, while her 263 strikeouts landed her in the No. 9 spot in Big West single season annals.
Hyland blanked the Highlanders in game one, 3-0, yielding just three hits and striking out three. She returned in the season finale to post a seven-hit shutout.
Others nominated: Monique Wesley (Cal State Fullerton); Amanda Hansen (Long Beach State); Dana Cruse (UC Davis); Heather Morales (Hawai‘i)