LONG BEACH, Calif. – Makena Smith hit three home runs in two games as the California softball team split a pair of contests at the Wilson Invitational on Friday at the Long Beach State University Softball Complex.

The Bears (6-2) came back strong behind two long balls and five RBI from Smith in an 8-4 victory over the host Beach after dropping the first game to Louisiana-Monroe, 5-4.    

Game 1 – Louisiana-Monroe 5, Cal 4   
Cal got on the board with runners reaching base thanks to a good eye at the plate. Victoria Abrams, the starter for ULM, couldn't find the zone and walked three batters while hitting another as the Bears took a 1-0 lead after the first four batters came to the plate. Keeping it going in the opening frame, Sophie Medellin continued her hot start with an RBI single to left and it was 2-0 Cal after the first.

The Bears tacked on another in the second with a two-out rally. Smith singled through the left side and came all the way around on a Kennedy Thomas RBI triple to the wall in right. ULM found its offense in the home half, however, scoring two runs on two hits and three walks as Annabel Teperson took over in the circle with one out.

The Warhawks made it 5-3 through two on another pair of RBI base hits. Looking to rally, Smith came to the plate for the Bears with two down in the fourth and blasted a shot to dead center, her second of the season to pull Cal within 5-4.    
Kacey Zobac reached in the seventh with a two-out double, but she was stranded by a strikeout to end the game.

Game 2 – Cal 8, Long Beach State 4
Getting the start in the circle, Haylei Archer continued her strong run to begin the season. She was clean the first time through the Beach lineup with three strikeouts. With zeroes on the board heading to the third, Cal broke through first.

Mika Lee walked and Smith reached on error before Zobac broke the scoreless tie with an RBI single off the pitcher's glove to make it 1-0. Tianna Bell kept the rally going for the Bears, laying down a perfect sacrifice bunt to plate Smith as it was 2-0 after the top half of the third.

Beach got one back in the bottom half, using a stolen base and an RBI single to close within a run at 2-1. Smith gave the Bears some space in the fourth, blasting her second home run of the day way over the fence in left, a 3-run shot to make it 5-1 heading to the home half.  

LBSU used a double and back-to-back singles to pull within 5-2 heading to the fifth, but the Bears continued their clutch night at the plate as Elon Butler laced a single to left, bringing around pinch-runner Diamond Holland who stole second base.

Teperson replaced Archer in the circle with two down and runners at second and third in the home fifth, getting out of the jam with a groundout to shortstop and it was 6-2 Cal into the sixth.

Completing her four-hit day at the plate, Smith crushed her third homer in two games and second in as many at-bats, putting Cal in front 8-2.

Beach added one more run, but Teperson shut it down from there as Cal earned the split on the day.  

UP NEXT
Cal continues play at the Wilson Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 18, with a 12:30 pm start against UC Davis and a 3 pm first pitch against the Beach.  

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