Dirtbags Even Series With 2-1 Win Over Fullerton

Friday, May 27

Long Beach, Calif.

6:00 PM

Long Beach State University

36-19, 15-8

Cal State Fullerton

34-21, 16-7

Cal State Fullerton

Long Beach State

Sophomore Darren McCaughan has delivered 13 quality starts in 15 trips to the rubber this year, becoming the first 10-game winner for LBSU in 11 years.

5/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 27, 2016

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Long Beach, Calif. - Behind another strong pitching performance from sophomore Darren McCaughan, Long Beach State (36-19, 15-8 Big West) pulled out a must-have victory, 2-1, over rivals Cal State Fullerton (34-21, 16-7 Big Wes) on Friday night at Blair Field. McCaughan lasted 7.1 innings, allowing just one run on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts. He improves to 10-1 on the year while lowering his ERA to 1.98.

McCaughan becomes the first 10-game winner for Long Beach State since Cesar Ramos won 10 games back in 2005. The win keeps the Dirtbags in the hunt for a Big West championship, and an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals, if they can beat the Titans again on Saturday.

"This is what you play for," said Dirtbags head coach Troy Buckley. "This is what you dream of. Game seven of the World Series; last game to win a Big West title against Fullerton … This is great drama, and it's just great stuff to be able to finish it off."

Fullerton was able to strike first on Friday, pushing across a run in the top of the fourth inning thanks to three straight hits in the frame. Jerrod Bravo hit a one-out double to left, then a Tanner Pinkston single to right center put runners at the corners with one out. Scott Hurt's squeeze bunt turned into a well-placed RBI single on the infield, bringing in Bravo for the 1-0 lead. McCaughan stranded the two runners, and CSF only had three men reach base safely the rest of the night, with none of them reaching scoring position.

A key error sparked a Dirtbags response in the sixth, as Luke Rasmussen reached base on a dropped throw at first by Dalton Blaser. After Brock Lundquist worked a walk, Daniel Jackson served a single to right field to load the bases with one out for David Banuelos. The catcher worked a full count walk to force in the tying run, and that chased Titans starter John Gavin from the game.

New pitcher Scott Serigstad faced pinch hitter Garrett Nelson, and on the first pitch, Nelson delivered an RBI groundout to first base to score Lundquist and make it 2-1 Long Beach.

From there, McCaughan was able to get into the eighth inning before Austin McGeorge came in to finish the task. McGeorge worked 1.1 innings, allowing an infield single with two outs in the ninth, but nothing more to record his fifth save of the year. Hurst attempted to advance to second on a ball in the dirt, but was caught stealing on a perfect throw by Banuelos behind the plate for the final out.

It all comes down to the final game of the regular season as both teams will have plenty to play for. A win for the Dirtbags means their first Big West championship since 2008, as they would be tied with the Titans in the standings but take the automatic bid thanks to the tiebreaker. A Fullerton win would mean an outright title for the Titans and an automatic postseason berth.

Saturday is also Senior Day, as seven departing Dirtbags will be celebrated before the game. Long Beach mayor Robert Garcia will also be at Blair Field pregame to deliver a special declaration before the festivities get underway. Fans are encouraged to get to the ballpark early to not miss out on an eventful day at Blair. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be televised live on Fox Sports Prime Ticket.

NOTES: The Dirtbags did not commit an error for the second straight game of the series, and have committed just three errors in their last eight games … In his 15th start of the season, McCaughan made his 13th quality start … Friday night's attendance of 2,391 represents the largest home crowd of the season for the Dirtbags … Jarren Duran extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a bunt single in the first inning … LBSU improves to 13-3 against left-handed starting pitchers this season.