Dirtbags Rally Late For Shutout Win

Wednesday, March 11

Long Beach, Calif.

6:00 PM

Long Beach State University

10-7

George Washington

7-4

George Washington

Long Beach State

Kyle Friedrichs was the Big West Pitcher of the Week.

3/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 11, 2015

Box Score

LONG BEACH, Calif. - As the eighth inning rolled around, the pitching dominated both sides but the Long Beach State Dirtbags put up all their runs with two outs in the eighth in a 6-0 win over visiting George Washington. Chris Mathewson sparked the rally with an RBI single that brought home the game's first run.

Mathewson strode to the plate for the first time in his collegiate career with two on and two outs in the eighth. After two quick fly outs, Joey Sanchez singled and Zack Rivera walked. A pinch hitting Mathewson offered at the first pitch he saw and went right back up the middle to score Sanchez.

From there, the flood gates opened for the Dirtbags (10-7). An error extended the inning as a throw to first went wide in trying to retire Alex Bishop and two runs came around to score. A walk put another runner on for Nico Maida, who drove his first collegiate hit into right field to score another run.

David Banuelos further extended the lead with a looping single into left field that scored two more. The six-run lead proved more than enough for the Dirtbags pitching staff as it recorded its third shutout of the season.

Kyle Friedrichs began the day on the mound, throwing six strong innings on short rest. He scattered three, struck out six, walked one and picked off the only runner to reach scoring position on him. Robbie Metz was on the hill for the Colonials (7-4) and went seven innings while fanning eight and scattering four hits.

Tanner Brown took the ball in the seventh and threw two shutout innings to get the win on the hill. He tossed a perfect seventh and struck out the side in the eighth. Austin McGeorge saved the shutout in the ninth as the first three Colonials reached base to start the inning.

McGeorge entered with the bases loaded and struck out the first batter he faced. A sharp grounder to third turned into a tailor-made double play to end the game and keep the shutout intact.

Long Beach State enters an eight-day layoff between games with the 6-0 win. After an off weekend this weekend, the Dirtbags will host Cal State Fullerton on Mar. 20 in the first of a three-game nonconference series.