Dirtbags Fall To Late UCSB Rally

Sunday, March 29

Santa Barbara, Calif.

1:00 PM

Long Beach State University

13-10, 1-2

UC Santa Barbara

19-7, 2-1

Long Beach State

UC Santa Barbara

3/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 29, 2015

Box Score

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Long Beach State took an early lead but fell victim to a four-run eighth as the Dirtbags (13-10, 1-2 Big West) fell 4-2 in the finale at UC Santa Barbara. No. 15 UCSB (19-7, 2-1 Big West) did all of its damage in the ninth inning to steal the series.

The Dirtbags again used a leadoff single from Garrett Hampson to go up 1-0 in the first inning. Despite a rocky first inning, freshman starter Chris Mathewson made the slight lead hold up for seven innings.

Mathewson struck out the side in the first to leave the bases loaded for the Gauchos and didn't allow a hit until the fourth. He allowed just two hits through the first seven innings while striking out seven. He settled in after the first and only issued one more walk.

Shane Bieber settled in for UCSB as well. The Dirtbags were able to get to him with eight hits through his seven and a third but Bieber was able to keep the Beach off the scoreboard. He fanned five without issuing a walk as kept his team within striking distance.

Both starters bowed out in the eighth as Domenic Mazza finished off the inning for UCSB to preserve a 1-0 lead and strand a runner on second. Mathewson left after Clay Fisher's comebacker went off of Mathewson's leg for a single. Mathewson tried to throw out Fisher at first as he recovered but threw the ball away, allowing Fisher to move into scoring position.

Fisher scored as Peter Maris hit a game-tying double to right center. The Dirtbags went to the bullpen for the first of four times in the inning as the bottom of the eight saw all nine hitters come to the plate for UCSB and five pitchers come to the mound for LBSU.

Logan Lombana walked the only batter he faced and Austin McGeorge threw a wild pitch to put the go-ahead run on third. Robby Nesovic hit a fly ball to center for a sacrifice fly that brought the go-ahead run home. A triple, followed by a single off of Tyler Radcliffe plated two more runs for the Gauchos before Ty Provencher put an end to the inning.

A walk and two singles brought home a run in the ninth for the Dirtbags. Nolan Meadows' pinch hit single scored Joey Sanchez but that would be all Nesovic would allow in earning his first save of the season.

The Dirtbags are back at home for four games next week. They first host a midweek game against UNLV on Tuesday at 6 p.m.