Defensive Miscues Costly As Dirtbags Drop Opener At UCR

Friday, May 16

Riverside, Calif.

6:00 PM

Long Beach State University

27-25, 12-7

UC Riverside

24-24, 11-8

Long Beach State

UC Riverside

Richard Prigatano had two hits, scored twice, and stole third twice.

5/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 16, 2014

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A rough start set the tone for the game as Long Beach State fell 8-2 on Friday night at UC Riverside. The Dirtbags (27-25, 12-7 Big West) saw their four-game win streak snapped with the loss. They had nine hits although every hit was a single.

The bottom of the first inning spelled trouble as UCR (24-24, 11-8 Big West) plated two runs without getting the ball out of the infield. The inning began on a routine play turning into a three-base error for Joe Chavez. A slow bouncer to the right side ended up as a base hit to put runners on the corners. A sharp grounder to third had Chavez in a rundown between third and home but the Dirtbags were unable to catch him as he retreated back to third.

After an infield fly, a hit batter and a walk had the Highlanders up 2-0. A sacrifice fly made it 3-0 before the inning ended. The Dirtbags would go on to make three errors in the game as UCR took advantage with four of their eight runs being marked as unearned.

The Highlanders returned the favor in the fourth when Garrett Hampson reached on an error and moved all the way to third on a couple of overthrows. Ino Patron promptly cashed him in with a sacrifice fly. Hampson went on to single in his final two at bats, helping Colby Brenner along in sixth before he eventually scored on Richard Prigatano's single.

That would be all the Dirtbags would scratch out as UCR's Jacob Smigelski went seven strong innings to get his eighth win. Andrew Rohrbach took the loos on the mound after giving up six runs although only three were earned. He struck out three and walked one. It was Rohrbach's first loss since his Dirtbag debut on Feb. 15 against Vanderbilt.

The Highlanders added another three-run inning in the fifth s they had the bases loaded again. This time they had three hits but were helped along by a Dirtbag error. Francisco Tellez drew two free passes with the bases loaded to drive in a pair of runs. One more run scored after a Dirtbag error in the sixth and Devin Bola ski added a solo homer in the eighth.

The Dirtbags will try to even up the series tomorrow with UC Riverside in another night game at the Riverside Sports Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.