Shaw Loses Series in the Eighth

Sunday, May 4

Davis, Calif.

1:00 PM

Long Beach State University

27-17, 0

UC Davis

29-17, 0

Long Beach State

UC Davis

Jason Corder leads the team in hitting at .417. Corder played for the Bears for two seasons.

5/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 4, 2008

Box Score

DAVIS-- Closer Bryan Shaw (2-1) gave up three runs in the eighth inning as UC Davis (29-16, 9-6 Big West) caught No. 23-ranked Long Beach State (27-17, 9-6 Big West) in the standings with their second-straight late inning rally.

The Dirtbags again could put plate the go-ahead run in the ninth, much like they could not on Saturday after UCD scored three runs in the seventh. It was Davis' fourth eighth inning winning rally of the season, winning 3-2.

Brandon Godfrey led off the ninth with a pinch-hit single, but was unable to score following a sacrifice, groundout and strikeout of Jason Corder. Justin Fitzgerald recorded his second save of the weekend and 10th of the season, saving the game for reliever Andy Suiter (4-0).

Corder drove in both runs for The Beach, with an RBI single and an RBI double, as the late inning rally ruined a strong outing by Jake Thompson. Thompson went 6.2 scoreless innings, scattering seven hits, while using just 74 pitches, and giving a 2-0 lead to the bullpen.

David Roberts came on with runners on the corners in the seventh and got a ground ball to end the inning to keep it at 2-0, stranding the third Aggie at third base. Shaw then tried for the two-inning save and was unable to convert.

Thompson twice stranded a runner at third base following leadoff singles, getting two inning ending fly balls in the second and fifth innings. Thompson was efficient through the first six, with just 64 pitches, using just seven pitches in the second, nine pitches in the third and fourth innings and 10 pitches in the sixth.

Corder's bloop single in the third, scored Jonathan Jones from second and made it 1-0 in the third, before a two-out RBI double in the fifth made it 2-0. Bryan Evans went the first 6.2 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits.

The Dirtbags return home to host four games, beginning on Tuesday against Fresno State at an earlier than scheduled 6 p.m. start. LBSU hosts UC Santa Barbara next weekend, with Saturday's game starting at a later than scheduled 6 p.m. time. Friday's game is at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday's is at 1 p.m.