Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
8-7
Utah Valley
4-11
Dirtbags Drop Slugfest In Finale With Utah Valley
3/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 9, 2014
LONG BEACH, Calif. - The series finale turned into a slugfest in the late innings as Utah Valley defeated the Long Beach State Dirtbags 13-8 on Sunday. The two teams combined to score 16 of the 21 runs in the game over the sixth and seventh innings. Garrett Hampson went 2-for-5 for the Dirtbags (8-7) to extend his hitting streak to eight games.
Utah Valley (4-11) jumped on top early and led from start to finish as they avoided being swept by the Dirtbags. Sean Moysh came to the plate as the third batter of the game and tripled in the Wolverines first run. Craig Brinkerhoff doubled in two more runs later in the inning for the 3-0 Wolverine lead.
The Dirtbags got one back in the third when Colby Brenner sprinted home after a wild pitch but that would be all the offense could scratch out in the early stages of the game.
As both teams reached into their bullpens in the sixth both offenses exploded for a combined 10 runs. Utah Valley increased their lead to 9-1 with a six-run sixth that seemingly put the game out of reach. Four singles, coupled with three walks and a hit by pitch, allowed the Wolverines to put the big number on the scoreboard and take a commanding lead. Jordy Hart and Mark Krueger both had two-RBI singles while Moysh drew a bases loaded walk to highlight the scoring. Hart was in the middle of a big day for the Wolverines.
The Dirtbags did their best to respond and get back in the game. The first two batters reached safely, prompting Utah Valley's first pitching change. After the Dirtbags sent three pitchers in the mound in the top of the sixth, the Wolverines were forced to equal the moves with three different pitchers of their own in the bottom half.
Another walk loaded the bases and Alex DeGoti cashed in on the opportunity with a two-run single. Colby Brenner and Johnny Bekakis also hit run-scoring singles with two outs to total four runs in the inning before Utah Valley escaped the jam.
Hart continued his hot streak in the top of the seventh with a three-run homer down the left field line that helped Utah Valley get all four runs back and go up 13-5. Hart went 5-for-5 on the day with three runs scored and five RBI.
The Dirtbags tried to climb back into the game again as DeGoti knocked in his third RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Patron came home on a Utah Valley error that extended the inning. A Hampson double and Richard Prigatano single in the eighth accounted for the final run of the game. Prigatano's single completed a 3-for-5 day at the plate.
The Dirtbags sent seven pitchers to the mound and the teams combined to have 11 different pitchers in the game. Both starters still came away with the respective decisions as Danny Beddes took the win on the mound and Jason Alexander was handed the loss.
The Dirtbags are back at Blair Field next weekend for a three-game series with Indiana. First pitch for the series is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Danny Beddes (1-1)
L: Alexander, Jason (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Jordy Hart 1 ; Zach Slesk 1 ; Craig Brinkerhoff 2
3B: Sean Moysh 1
HR: Jordy Hart 1
RBI: Jordy Hart 5 ; Sean Moysh 2 ; Mark Krueger 2 ; Craig Brinkerhoff 2 ; Riley White 1 ; Greyson Bogden 1
SH: Craig Brinkerhoff 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jordy Hart 3 ; Zach Slesk 1 ; Sean Moysh 1 ; Mark Krueger 1 ; Seth Rhineer 2 ; Craig Brinkerhoff 1 ; Kade Andrus 2 ; Riley White 1 ; Greyson Bogden 1
CS: Jordy Hart 1
HBP: Zach Slesk 1 ; Seth Rhineer 2
Batting:
2B: Hampson, Garrett 1 ; DeGoti, Alex 1
RBI: Bekakis, Johnny 1 ; Prigatano, Richard 1 ; DeGoti, Alex 3 ; Brenner, Colby 1
SH: Bekakis, Johnny 1 ; Brenner, Colby 1
SF: DeGoti, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hampson, Garrett 1 ; Hill, Michael 2 ; Prigatano, Richard 1 ; Patron, Ino 1 ; Bishop, Alex 1 ; DeGoti, Alex 1 ; Brenner, Colby 1
HBP: Bishop, Alex 1
