Long Beach State University
14-6
Columbia
3-11
Long Beach State Drops Series Finale vs. Columbia, 8-6
3/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Long Beach, Calif. - Hungry for a win to cap off their brutal 10-game, nine-day road trip, the Columbia Lions (3-11) came out swinging on Sunday afternoon at Blair Field, pounding out 15 hits on their way to an 8-6 win over No. 24 Long Beach State (14-6). That matches the season high for hits allowed by Dirtbags pitchers, and despite a three-RBI day from Daniel Jackson, LBSU couldn't fight their way back from an 8-1 deficit.
The Lions recorded seven hits off Dirtbags starter Dave Smith in just 2.1 innings, scoring five times on the righthander. Four of those runs came in the third inning when the Lions had five hits, including a two-run single for Kyle Bartelman. Leadoff hitter Will Savage was the star of the day, starting out 5-for-5 with two doubles before striking out in his final at-bat of the day. He scored three runs and left fielder Robb Paller had three RBIs for the Lions.
After Columbia scored three times on five hits in the sixth inning, the visitors had built an 8-1 lead, but the top of the Dirtbags order immediately started a rally. Garrett Hampson and Zack Domingues hit back-to-back singles, then a walk by Alex Muzzi loaded the bases. Two batters later, a sacrifice fly by Jackson brought home a run, but that was prelude to a big hit for pinch-hitter Luke Rasmussen. The sophomore grounded the first pitch he saw sharply down the third base line for a two-run double, bringing the Dirtbags back in the game at 8-4.
Jackson continued his hot hitting at the plate in the eighth inning with a two-run home run to left field off reliever Josh Simpson. Unfortunately, the Dirtbags comeback effort stalled there and Columbia salvaged a game both in this series and on their road trip.
Playing in just his second game of the season, Jackson is hitting .600 (3-for-5) the last two days with two runs, two walks and five RBIs. The three runs batted in are a new career high for the junior, who was used as a catcher last season but has been at first base the last two games.
LBSU will hit the road for their next four games, beginning next Thursday, Mar. 24, for a non-conference series at Cal State Fullerton. The Dirtbags return to Blair Field to open Big West action on Apr. 1 against UC Santa Barbara.
NOTES: For the first time all season, Jarren Duran wasn't at second base, or in the two-spot in the lineup. Instead, freshman Domenic Colacchio got his first career start, and his first playing time of the season at the keystone ... Kyle Brown pitched an inning of scoreless relief, recording all three of his outs via the strikeout for a new career high in that category ... Austin McGeorge notched his ninth scoreless outing of the season, needing just nine pitches to work 1.1 innings with two strikeouts ... The Dirtbags are now 1-5 when their starter fails to pitch at least 6.0 innings.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Roy, Kevin (1-1)
L: Smith, Dave (2-2)
S: Simpson, Josh (1)
Batting:
2B: Savage, Will 2
3B: Paller, Robb 1
RBI: Kinne, John 1 ; Paller, Robb 3 ; Bartelman, Kyle 2 ; Engel, Joe 1
SH: Kinne, John 1 ; Robinette, Lane 1
SF: Paller, Robb 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Savage, Will 3 ; Kinne, John 1 ; Paller, Robb 2 ; Maguire, Nick 1 ; Adams, Shane 1
SB: Savage, Will 1
HBP: Engel, Joe 1
Batting:
2B: Rasmussen, Luke 1
HR: Jackson, Daniel 1
RBI: Hampson, Garrett 1 ; Jackson, Daniel 3 ; Rasmussen, Luke 2
SH: Mercadel, Tristan 1
SF: Jackson, Daniel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hampson, Garrett 1 ; Domingues, Zack 1 ; Muzzi, Alex 1 ; Lundquist, Brock 1 ; Jackson, Daniel 1 ; Colacchio, Domenic 1
CS: Hampson, Garrett 1
