Dirtbags Sweep Another Saturday Doubleheader In Oklahoma

Saturday, March 12

Norman, Okla.

12:00 PM

Long Beach State University

9-4

Oklahoma

5-8-1

Long Beach State

Oklahoma

3/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

March 12, 2016

Box Score

Norman, Okla. - For the second straight weekend, Long Beach State (10-4) was forced to play twice on Saturday due to rain; and for the second straight weekend, the Dirtbags won both games. This weekend's double dip came on the road at Oklahoma (5-9-1), where LBSU put up an improved offensive display for wins of 7-3 and 6-3.

LBSU scored twice in the top of the first inning in both games, and only trailed for three at-bats on the day. The offense cranked out 11 hits in each game, scoring multiple runs in six separate innings to pick up the wins.

Game One: Long Beach State 7, Oklahoma 3

Brock Lundquist stayed locked in at the plate with a strong 3/5 effort in the opener, starting with an RBI triple in the top of the first inning to score Jarren Duran. Lundquist would later score on an RBI bunt single by Garrett Nelson for the early 2-0 advantage. Lundquist would add a double and a single, falling a home run shy of the cycle, along with two more RBIs and another run scored.

The Dirtbags were relentless on the basepaths in the first four innings, stealing a total of seven bases off starting pitcher Alec Hansen and catcher Renae Martinez. Duran and Tristan Mercadel each swiped two bags, and Nelson, Alex Muzzi, Luke Rasmussen, and Zack Domingues each picked up a stolen base as well.

LBSU took a 5-1 lead in the fourth, before Oklahoma pulled within two on a two-run home run from Jack Flansburg in the bottom of the fifth. LBSU got that breathing room back in the seventh on back-to-back RBI doubles from Lundquist and Rasmussen.

Chris Mathewson got the win for Long Beach State to improve to 2-2 on the year, battling through seven innings allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and a career-high five walks. Austin McGeorge recorded the final five outs, getting a double play ball in the eighth then working a scoreless ninth. The Dirtbags defense turned five double plays in game one and had one in each of the first three innings in support of Mathewson.

Game Two: Long Beach State 6, Oklahoma 3

The offense wasted no time in giving starter Darren McCaughan a lead to work with. Garrett Hampson and Duran led off the game with singles and would score on consecutive RBI groundouts from Muzzi and Lundquist for a 2-0 first-inning lead.

Oklahoma was able to battle back with two-out offense, as their first five hits came with two men out. Sooners shortstop Sheldon Neuse delivered the big blow in the third inning after a pair of singles from Alex Wise and Flansburg. OU's top hitter crushed a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left, giving the Sooners a3-2 lead after three innings. It was his fourth homer of the year and third in his last four games.

Again, the Dirtbags didn't waste time in getting the lead. Lundquist led off the top of the fourth with a double to left field, and was followed by Rasmussen, who delivered a game-changing blow with one swing of the bat. The sophomore DH lined up a pitch from starter Chris Andritsos, sending it high to left field and carrying it over the 385 sign for a crucial two-run home run. It was the first homer of the season for LBSU's 2015 leader in that category and it proved to be a game winner.

LBSU would add insurance in the top of the eighth as an RBI groundout from Mercadel scored Lundquist, then the Dirtbags got a second run on a bizarre play. David Banuelos hit a ball deep in the hole to Neuse at short, who kept the ball in the infield but didn't have a play at first. The shortstop threw to third to try to catch Nelson off the bag, but was unsuccessful. As the throw was coming back to pitcher Keaten Hernandez, the ball got away from him and rolled toward the Dirtbags dugout along the first base line. A heads up Nelson sprinted home for the second run of the inning and a 6-3 lead.

Darren McCaughan improved to 3-0 after his fourth straight quality start. The sophomore went six innings allowing three runs on six hits and a walk. He did see his ERA rise to 1.65, however. Joshua Advocate pitched two scoreless innings in relief and has still not allowed a run this season. Freshman Chris Rivera allowed a pair of baserunners in the ninth, but struck out a pair and picked up his sixth save of the season.

Long Beach State will look for the sweep tomorrow as senior Tanner Brown (2-1, 3.86 ERA) gets the start. He will oppose OU starter Jake Elliott (0-0, 3.24 ERA) for a Noon CT start.

NOTES: Lundquist extended his hitting streak to 10 games with hits in both games Saturday ... Hampson started the day 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, then recorded hits in four straight at-bats across both games with three singles and a double ... Eight of the nine starters in game one recorded a base hit for the Dirtbags as did seven of the nine starters in game two ... With four RBIs on Saturday, Lundquist is the new team leader in that category with nine on the year ... Saturday's wins were the first of the season for Long Beach State when the opposing team hits a home run ... The LBSU bullpen pitched five scoreless innings to lower its collective ERA to just 0.99.