Liebel Races to First Win of the Season

Friday, March 14

Long Beach, Calif.

6:30 PM

Long Beach State University

10-3

USC

9-6

USC

Long Beach State

3/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 14, 2008

Box Score

LONG BEACH-- It took a mere two hours and 32 minutes, as Andrew Liebel (1-0) got his first win of the season, leading No. 7-ranked Long Beach State (10-3) to a 2-1 win over USC (9-6).

Liebel used just 91 pitches to give up a single run, in the first, on six hits, striking out five and walking none. In his previous three starts, all extra inning wins, Liebel struck out 31 and walked three.

In the ninth, Liebel struck out Nick Buss to start, and then got two grounders to short, both which were handled nicely by Danny Espinosa, one of a number of plays by the Dirtbag shortstop on the night.

Liebel retired nine in a row before a leadoff single in the fifth led to two runners on base. Liebel though struck out Mike O'Neill to end the inning and keep LBSU in front 2-1. Liebel used just 76 pitches through the first seven innings and tossed just six in the eighth, before finishing his night with nine in the ninth.

Tom Milone (2-1) pitched the first 7.1 innings for USC, giving up two runs on eight hits.

LBSU took the lead in the third thanks to back-to-back doubles by Shane Peterson and Jason Corder, before a two-out RBI single by Rylan Sandoval made it 2-1.

Espinosa made the defensive play of the night, making a diving stop and throw to rob Derek Perren of an infield hit in the seventh. An inning later, catcher Travis Howell threw out the game tying run at second base, after Robert Stock led off the eighth with a single and tried to steal second.

Liebel gave up a leadoff triple followed by an RBI single by Grant Green to give USC a 1-0 lead.

Jonathan Jones in his first start and collegiate at-bat, got a base hit in the second inning as the starting centerfielder.

The series continues tomorrow at USC at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday back at Blair Field at 1 p.m.