Espinosa and Godfrey Nearly Cycle Through CSUN

Friday, April 18

Northridge, Calif.

3:00 PM

Long Beach State University

21-14, 0

CSUN

15-18, 0

Long Beach State

CS Northridge

Brandon Godfrey drove in six runs for LBSU.

4/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 18, 2008

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE-- Danny Espinosa drove in the first five runs, falling a triple short of the cycle, going 4-for-6, as No. 25-ranked Long Beach State (21-14, 3-4 Big West) won the series opener at CS Northridge (15-18, 4-6 Big West), 16-2.

Brandon Godfrey also came a triple short of the cycle, driving in six runs thanks to a two-run home run, two-run double and two-run single all after the fifth inning.

Espinosa's three-run home run in the third, to the opposite field, gave LBSU a 3-1, before his two-run double in the fifth made it 5-1. He also singled in the second and eighth innings, three days after Shane Peterson hit for the cycle against Pepperdine. A five-run sixth then put the contest out of reach.

Andrew Liebel (4-2) gave up two unearned runs on six hits over eight innings, striking out nine and walking three against a very tight zone. Prior to today, Liebel had not walked a batter in three-plus starts, spanning 25.1 innings. He had walked just six over his first eight starts prior to walking two in the first inning. He pitched to just six over the minimum his final seven innings.

Davin Tate (2-1) went the first 4.1 innings to take the loss, giving up five runs on 10 hits. The Dirtbags then exploded for five runs in the sixth, capped off by Godfrey's home run, to make it a 10-1 lead off of Ryan Juarez.

Second baseman Jason Tweedy played for the first time since March 18 (hand). Tweedy had a two-run single in the eighth giving every starter at least one hit, part of the 20-hit attack. Peterson and Steve Tinoco added three hits a piece.

The series continues on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. in Northridge.

DOWN ON THE FARM
A Look at Dirtbag Minor Leaguers (19 on pro ball rosters)
Former Major Leaguer Jeff Liefer, who played in Japan last year, is batting .300 for Triple-A Charlotte... former World Series reliever Mike Gallo has yet to allow a run in two appearances with Double-A New Hampshire... Mariner prospect Jeremy Reed is batting .313 with runs in four of his last five games for Triple-A Tacoma... Todd Jennings has hits in all three starts (.333) for Triple-A Fresno... Brad Davis started the Double-A season with hits in seven-straight for Charlotte, batting .296... opponents are batting .242 against Neil Jamison in five appearances for Double-A San Antonio with a 1.08 ERA... Cody Evans has a win and a save for Single-A Visalia... Abe Alvarez has a 2.84 ERA in three appearances out of the pen with an .091 opponent batting average for Triple-A Pawtucket.... Brian Anderson (Giants) and Jason Vargas (Mets) are both on the disabled list to start the year.