Fullerton Evens Series With 4-2 Win Over The Dirtbags

Friday, March 25

Fullerton, Calif.

7:00 PM

Long Beach State University

15-7

Cal State Fullerton

12-10

Long Beach State

Cal State Fullerton

David Banuelos drove in two runs in the second inning with a two-out double to put LBSU in front on Saturday.

3/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 25, 2016

Box Score

Fullerton, Calif. - No. 20 Long Beach State took a 2-0 lead in the second inning of Friday night's game with Cal State Fullerton (12-10), but the Dirtbags (15-7) couldn't make the lead stand up in a 4-2 road loss at Goodwin Field. The Titans chipped away with runs in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game, then took the lead with two runs in the eighth to secure the win and even the series.

David Banuelos opened the scoring with a two-out, two-run double in the second inning, lining the first pitch he saw to left center field to score Daniel Jackson and Zack Domingues, who both singled with two outs. Both Jackson and Domingues were 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead the offensive effort.

Darren McCaughan got the start for Long Beach State and couldn't have looked much better to start, facing the minimum with a perfect four innings of work before allowing his first baserunner. Tanner Pinkston lead off the fifth inning with a flared single that plopped into left field, the first of his three hits on the night. Dalton Blaser singled through the right side, then McCaughan bobbled a sacrifice bunt attempt to load the bases with no outs thanks to the error.

McCaughan struck out the next two batters to nearly escape the jam, but he hit Jerrod Bravo with a pitch to force in a run. A single, a walk and an RBI single from Chris Hudgins tied the game in the next inning, coming all with two outs and chasing McCaughan from the game. It was his shortest outing of the season at 5.2 innings pitched, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with five strikeouts.

The score remained tied until the eighth inning when Timmy Richards launched a one-out home run to left center field on the first pitch he saw from former Wilson High School teammate Ty Provencher. The Titans would add another run as Pinkston came in to score his third run of the night on a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2.

Long Beach State put two runners on in the ninth inning but couldn't replicate its 4-2 ninth-inning comeback from the night before as Domingues struck out to end the game.

The rubber match between the Dirtbags and the Titans is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday back at Goodwin Field as Tanner Brown (3-1, 3.23 ERA) will go up against Connor Eastman (4-1, 1.38 ERA).

NOTES: Friday was the first time the Dirtbags have lost when leading after five innings, falling to 10-1 … It's also the first time LBSU has lost a McCaughan start, winning the previous five … Banuelos is now on a five-game hitting streak and has recorded his five RBIs on just two swings including his three-run home run vs. Columbia … With two hits Friday, Domingues has matched his season-long hitting streak by hitting safely in four straight contests … The home run allowed by Provencher was the first run he's allowed this season after throwing 8.2 scoreless innings … RHP Dave Smith, the Dirtbags' midweek starter so far this year, made his first relief appearance of the season, recording the final two outs in the bottom of the eighth.