Long Beach State University Athletics
Dirtbags to play five games over next week
3/19/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 19, 2012
Long Beach, Calif. -
Complete Weekly Baseball Release 
Leading Off
Long Beach State continues to stay on the road this week, playing four games away from Blair Field before touching back for the one game at home in this 14-of-15 stretch. The Dirtbags will head to Malibu for a day game against Pepperdine on Tuesday before travelling to Wichita State for a three-game series with start times of 4:30 p.m., Noon and 11 a.m. PT. Returning home, Long Beach State will have a quick turnaround to play Washington State in Blair at 6:30 p.m. on Monday. All Dirtbag games can be followed through live audio or Gametracker at www.longbeachstate.com.
Clash With Titans
Playing a doubleheader on Friday to get out in front of the weather, Long Beach State played nearly identical games with No. 8 Cal State Fullerton, losing both 2-1 despite scoring the first run in each contest. The Dirtbags rallied on Sunday, getting three hits from Richard Prigatano and two from Ino Patron, as Long Beach State again fell behind 2-1, but scored six runs in the sixth inning to come away with a 7-2 win and the team's fourth win against a ranked opponent in 2012.
Scouting Pepperdine
Pepperdine has impressed so far in the early part of the season, posting a 14-5 record and receiving votes in the polls. The Waves are led by shortstop Zach Vincej, who is hitting .388 with a home run and six doubles while starting every game for the Waves. Long Beach State won both ends of the midweek home and home last season, earning a win in 12 innings last season at Eddy D. Field Stadium. The Dirtbags hold a 65-59-2 lead in the all-time series, and have won 33 of the last 51 games.
Scouting Wichita State
Long Beach State and Wichita State resume a series that has been played nearly annually since 1994. The Dirtbags trail the Shockers 23-20 in a close series, but won the last series between the team's in 2010. Wichita State won the last series in Wichita, taking two of three back in 2009. This season's Shockers team is led by Johnny Coy, who is hitting .376 over 22 games, while the rotation is led by southpaw Josh Smith, who has a 22.20 ERA and 36 strikeouts in six starts while pitching on Fridays.
In Buck We Trust
After one season under head coach Troy Buckley, the Dirtbags lowered their team ERA from 4.67 to 3.55, and the pitchers are again impressing in 2012. Over 18 games, Long Beach State has posted a team ERA of under 3.00 at 2.99, holding opponents to 55 earned runs over that time, and holding No. 8 Cal Sate Fullerton to two runs in all three games last weekend. 12 of the 13 pitchers on the roster have seen time on the mound, as Long Beach State's depth is showing, despite the rotation having given five-plus innings in all but two starts this season. Long Beach State in all has eight pitchers returning that threw over 15.0 innings last season, and that group has helped the Dirtbags compete well in the early going.
Closing the Gap
Long Beach State still ranks last in the Big West in hitting, but is continuing to close the gap, and is now hitting .230 while playing the nation's third-toughest schedule. After starting the season in a 1-for-19 slump, freshman Richard Prigatano is now hitting .291, second on the team, while sophomore Ino Patron moved over .300 to .311 after getting six hits over the weekend in Fullerton. Patron and Juan Avila now lead the team with 19 hits apiece.
