Dirtbags Nearly Complete Big Comeback But Fall In Finale

Sunday, March 23

Fullerton, Calif.

1:00 PM

Long Beach State University

11-11

Cal State Fullerton

13-8

Long Beach State

Cal State Fullerton

Josh Frye threw 3.1 shutout innings in relief to keep the Dirtbags in the game.

3/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 23, 2014

Box Score

FULLERTON, Calif. - After falling behind 6-0 to start the game, the Long Beach State Dirtbags clawed their way back into the game but eventually fell 6-5 in the finale against Cal State Fullerton. Three Dirtbag relievers combined for five shutout innings as the offense nearly completed the comeback.

The Dirtbags (11-11) rallied for three runs in the fifth and put the tying run at second in the ninth before JD Davis finished out the game to collect his third save. The Titans (13-8) built a six-run lead by the fourth inning and held on for the win.

Cal State Fullerton dominated the first four innings of the game, allowing just two Dirtbag baserunners on a walk and an error. Meanwhile, the offense touched up Dirtbag starter Jason Alexander for six runs on seven hits. Four of those seven hits went for extra bases and the Titans also drew three walks.

Alexander pitched out of trouble in the first but surrendered four runs in the second. A walk and a double set up the first run as AJ Kennedy scored on a ground out. Matt Chapman's fly ball scored the second run of the inning before Clay Williamson singled and JD Davis stroked a triple to center to plate the final two runs of the frame. Keegan Dale squeezed in another run in the third for a 5-0 lead.

Alexander walked Davis to start the fourth and gave way to Ryan Millison. The Titans manufactured the run around for the commanding 6-0 lead before the Dirtbag bullpen swung the momentum.

Millison gave way to Josh Frye after a two-out walk and Frye turned in a spectacular relief performance. He allowed just one single over 3.1 innings of relief work and, more importantly, put an end to the Titans stranglehold on the game. Frye fanned one and walked one but never allowed a runner past first. Nick Rossetta threw a perfect ninth.

In a 6-0 hole, the Dirtbags jumped on the Titan relievers in the fifth. Michael Hill walked to start the inning and Cameron Pongs singled to put two on with one out. Daniel Jackson's single scored Hill from second to break the Dirtbags scoring silence. Colton Vaughn singled in Pongs and Colby Brenner's ground ball brought in Jackson to cut the Titan lead in half.

Tyler Peitzmeier kept the Dirtbags at bay over 2.2 innings to get into the final inning, which Davis was brought into pitch. The Dirtbags were able to get to Davis and put the tying run on second before he could retire the side.

Richard Prigatano singled to start the inning and Zack Belanger ripped a pinch hit single to put two one and one out. Jackson hit a slow bouncer to second, allowing the runners to move up but surrendering the second out. Nolan Meadows came in to pinch hit and blasted a double to the left center gap, plating Prigatano and Belanger. Alex Bishop pinch hit for Vaughn and ripped a line drive to the right side; however, it went right to the Titan second baseman Timmy Richards, who fielded the hard hit ball on one hop and threw out Bishop at first to end the game.

Nine pitchers came to the mound between both teams with the Titans sending five on a planned staff day.

The Dirtbags will be back on the road next week with a Tuesday game at UCLA followed by their conference-opening series at Cal State Northridge next weekend.