The New Era Of Dirtbags: 5 Critical Takeaways From Long Beach State Softball's 2025 Season And Coaching Shakeup

The Long Beach State University Softball program is officially charting a new course, following a transitional 2025 season that has set the stage for a dramatic shift in leadership and roster composition. As of the current date, the focus is squarely on the new Head Coach, Kendall Fearn, who has taken the reins and immediately injected fresh energy and veteran talent into the team, known to many as the 'Beach' or the 'Dirtbags' in the broader LBSU athletic landscape. The 2025 campaign, which saw the team conclude with a respectable 27-20 overall record and a 17-10 mark in the Big West Conference, serves as the final chapter of one era and the highly anticipated prelude to the next.

This deep dive explores the critical takeaways from the recent season, the complete biography of the new coaching architect, and the standout players who are poised to define the program's immediate future. Despite being picked to finish first in the 2025 Big West preseason poll, the team's performance, which included a No. 4 seed in the Big West Championship, highlighted the need for the strategic changes Fearn is already implementing.

The Architect of the New Era: Head Coach Kendall Fearn Biography

The Long Beach State Softball program officially ushered in a new chapter with the hiring of Kendall Fearn as Head Coach, replacing the long-serving Kim Sowder. Fearn's hiring marks a significant moment, as she steps into her first head coaching role after an extensive and successful career as an assistant.

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• Full Name: Kendall Fearn
• Current Role: Head Coach, Long Beach State University Softball
• Previous Coaching Role: Lead Assistant Coach, San Diego State University (SDSU)
• Impact at SDSU: Played a large part in the national rise of the San Diego State Softball program.
• Playing Career: Four-year starter as an infielder at UNLV (University of Nevada, Las Vegas).
• Notable Connection: Played under LBSU coaching legend Pete Manarino during her time at UNLV, establishing a foundational connection to the program's history and regional softball excellence.
• Coaching Experience: Accumulated 15 years as an assistant coach before taking the top job at Long Beach State.

Fearn's background as both a regional player and a key architect in a rising national program like San Diego State provides a perfect blend of local knowledge and high-level competitive experience. Her immediate focus has been on supplementing the roster with veteran talent and securing key recruits, signaling an aggressive push for immediate success.

2025 Season Review: Big West Standings and Championship Performance

The 2025 season for Long Beach State (LBSU) was a journey of high expectations and competitive reality within the challenging Big West Conference. The team proved to be a consistent contender, finishing the regular season with a strong overall record and a solid conference standing.

Preseason Hype vs. Final Finish

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LBSU was the consensus favorite, picked to finish first in the Big West by the league's coaches in the preseason poll. This projection was fueled by a core group of returning talent. However, the season concluded with the team holding a 27-20 overall record and a 17-10 Big West record, placing them as the No. 4 seed in the Big West Softball Championship.

Key Moments and Results:

• Big West Championship: As the No. 4 seed, LBSU faced No. 5 Hawai'i in the 2025 Big West Softball Championship, losing a high-scoring affair 10-8.
• Non-Conference Gauntlet: The schedule was notably California-heavy, including an appearance at the prestigious Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. A major early-season test was a grueling 11-inning battle against national powerhouse Oklahoma, which the Beach ultimately lost 2-0.
• Season Finale: The team finished the regular season on a high note, sweeping Cal Poly to wrap up the 2025 campaign.

The competitive nature of the Big West was evident, with Cal State Fullerton and CSUN also posting strong records, demonstrating the level of competition Fearn will face in her debut season.

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Star Power: The All-Big West Players Driving LBSU's Future

The success of the 2025 season was built on the backs of several standout student-athletes who earned conference recognition. These players, many of whom will be central to Coach Fearn’s new system, represent the high-level talent at the LBSU Softball Complex.

First Team Recognition:

Pitcher Sophia Fernandez was the team's highest-honored player, earning her third career All-Big West selection and her first-ever nod to the First Team. Her outstanding season solidified her status as the program’s ace and a leader in the circle.

Preseason and Honorable Mentions:

The team's depth was recognized with several other key awards:

• Preseason All-Big West: Seniors Jacquelyn Bickar and Shannon Haddad were both named to the Preseason All-Big West team, highlighting their expected impact for the season.
• Big West Honorable Mention: Six different players received Honorable Mention status, including pitcher Kate Barnett, who went 5-1 in Big West play. Other key roster names from the 2025 campaign who contributed significantly include Malayna Terrones, Priscilla Iniguez, Brynne Nally, Lina Apodaca, Selena Perez, and Miranda Gonzalez.

Immediate Impact: Kendall Fearn's Roster Overhaul and Future Outlook

The most immediate and fresh news surrounding the program is the aggressive recruitment strategy implemented by Coach Fearn. This focus on both veteran experience and new talent signals a "win-now" mentality for the upcoming seasons.

The Transfer Wave:

Fearn's first major move was to supplement the roster depth with five veteran Division I transfers. This infusion of experience from other high-level programs is designed to immediately raise the competitive floor of the team and provide leadership in the locker room.

The Future Pipeline:

Beyond the immediate transfers, Fearn secured commitments from two dynamic high school recruits in her first signing class: Lili Acosta and Jaeda Diaz. Securing top-tier high school talent is crucial for long-term program stability and success.

A Legacy of Excellence:

The new era under Fearn will look to build upon the program's rich history. Long Beach State Softball has a storied past, boasting 21 NCAA regional appearances and reaching the prestigious College World Series a total of five times (in 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993). This tradition of excellence provides a powerful standard for the current team to strive for.

With a foundation of established All-Big West talent, a new Head Coach with a winning pedigree, and a strategic infusion of veteran transfers, the Long Beach State Softball program is poised for a significant climb. The 2025 season was the closing of one chapter; the new era under Kendall Fearn promises a return to the top of the Big West standings and a push for deep NCAA tournament runs.