Mathewson Cruises, Dirtbags Top Florida Atlantic in NCAA Opener

Friday, June 3

Coral Gables, Fla.

10:00 AM

Long Beach State University

37-20

Florida Atlantic

38-18

Long Beach State

FAU

Mathewson Cruises, Dirtbags Top Florida Atlantic in NCAA Opener

6/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

June 3, 2016

Box Score | Photo Gallery (Game 1 - FAU)

Coral Gables, Fla. - Sophomore Chris Mathewson picked a great time to deliver his best start of the season. The righthander took a no-hitter into the seventh inning on Friday afternoon, as Long Beach State (37-20) defeated Florida Atlantic (38-18) by a 5-1 score to advance to the winner's bracket of the Coral Gables Regional. The Dirtbags await the winner of the Miami (FL)/Stetson game, knowing their next game will be Saturday at 7 p.m. ET back at Alex Rodriguez Park.

"(Mathewson) is obviously very talented," said Dirtbags head coach Troy Buckley after the win. "He hasn't had the type of year that we all think he's capable of having, but no better time to pitch extremely well in this type of environment and this type of setting."

The Preseason All-American lived up to his reputation with a dominant first six innings of work. Mathewson didn't allow a hit to a strong Owls lineup the first two turns through the order, walking just two batters while seeing two more reach on errors. Mathewson allowed his first hit on the first pitch of the seventh, surrendering a solo home run to FAU's Esteban Puerta. Mathewson exited the game after allowing a double and recording two outs in the seventh. He allowed just one run on the day in 6.2 innings, with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.

The one run allowed matches the season low for Mathewson. It's the fewest runs he's allowed in a start since a Mar. 17 win over Columbia. The two hits allowed also matches a season low from that same outing.

The Dirtbags gave Mathewson some run support in the second inning, putting a pair of runs on the board. Brock Lundquist led off the inning with a double off the base of the right field wall, getting to FAU starter David McKay (5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) on a 3-1 pitch. Daniel Jackson followed with a single to right field to put runners at the corners with no outs, setting up the game's first run.

In classic Dirtbags style, Alex Muzzi delivered a perfect drag bunt up the first base line. Puerta fielded the ball at first and Muzzi avoided his tag for an RBI single. After an error allowed both runners to move into scoring position, Jackson was brought home on an RBI groundout from David Banuelos to put the Dirtbags up 2-0.

LBSU added a run in the fifth after Brooks Stotler led off the inning with a walk. He was sacrificed into scoring position, then stole third (his first career steal) with two outs to give Garrett Hampson a great RBI opportunity. The junior shortstop delivered a clutch two-out hit, lining a double to left center to score Stotler and put the Beach up 3-0.

A one-out triple by Jarren Duran in the seventh inning led to a fourth Long Beach run, as the freshman was brought home on a squeeze bunt from Zack Domingues. Duran nearly had two triples on the day, leading off the game with a deep double into right center, but he was thrown out trying to stretch at third base. Luke Rasmussen added an insurance run in the ninth inning with his second hit of the afternoon, an RBI single to left center to score Domingues from second.

The Dirtbags offense put up 10 hits, while also drawing five walks and getting hit by a pitch once. LBSU had three stolen bases and a pair of sacrifice bunts, which both led to runs.

LBSU will play Saturday evening at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) against the winner of Miami and Stetson. Their game was delayed due to rain, so be sure to check for any weather delays for the remainder of the regional. The official watch party for Saturday's game will be at Legend's on 2nd Street. Anyone wearing Long Beach State attire will be admitted with no cover charge.

NOTES: LBSU is now 1-0 all-time against Florida Atlantic ... Every Dirtbags starter reached base at least once, either with a hit or a walk ... The Dirtbags committed three errors in Friday's game after committing three errors total in their previous eight games ... Hampson now has 211 career hits, passing Dan Twiss for seventh on LBSU's all-time hits list ... Hampson also recorded his 25th multi-hit game of the season ... With two hits on the day, Duran extended his hitting streak to 12 games ... LBSU is now 27-10 when scoring first in a game.