Dirtbags Split Doubleheader at No. 7 TCU

Saturday, February 24

Fort Worth, Texas

12:00 PM

Long Beach State University

2-3

TCU

2-2

Long Beach State

TCU

2/24/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

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Feb. 24, 2018

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FORT WORTH, Tex. - Following Friday's rainout, Long Beach State (2-4) split a Saturday doubleheader against No. 7 TCU (3-2) in its first road action of the season. The Dirtbags were able to grind out a hard-fought, come-from-behind 3-2 victory in game one, but couldn't keep TCU's offense in check in an 8-3 loss in game two.

Game One: Long Beach State 3, No. 7 TCU 2

FINAL: Dirtbags 3, No. 7 TCU 2.
Here's the final out as Chris Rivera earns the save thanks to a great play from Clayton Andrews in center! Game 2 will start at approximately 3:30 PT. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/ZsItfsCtB1
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) February 24, 2018

Long Beach State got another strong start from sophomore Zak Baayoun, who further established himself as the staff ace by throwing 7.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts. That brings his season strikeout total to 19 through just two starts.

After TCU took the lead in the first, LBSU quickly responded thanks to the bat of Luke Rasmussen, who drilled a ball over the left field fence in the top of the second inning to quickly tie the game. It's Rasmussen's first homer of the season and 13th of his career. The Dirtbags took the lead in the third as Garrett Nelson started the rally with a leadoff double. Clayton Andrews' grounder moved him to third with one out, allowing Chris Jimenez to bring in the run with a grounder to shortstop.

With the game tied in the seventh, Rasmussen started another rally when he was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Two batters later, Brooks Stotler ripped a double to right--his second double of the game--to put the go-ahead run at third. After an intentional walk, freshman Leonard Jones was inserted as a pinch-hitter. Jones looked at four consecutive balls for the bases-loaded walk and his first career RBI to put Long Beach up, 3-2.

Junior closer Chris Rivera collected the save in the ninth, recording the final out in compelling fashion. TCU first baseman Michael Landestoy blooped a single into left center in between three converging Dirtbags. He tried to stretch the hit into a double, but Andrews came up firing in center and threw him out at second to end the game and give Long Beach State the win.

Game Two: No. 7 TCU 8, Long Beach State 3

The Dirtbags were held to just three hits in the second game, but were able to manufacture three runs in the third inning to even up the score. After falling behind 3-0 after two innings, LBSU mounted a rally.

Stotler was hit by a pitch with one out in the third, and was immediately brought home on an RBI double from Shaq Robinson. Andrews then laid down a bunt towards third, and a throwing error allowed Robinson to score and put Andrews in scoring position at second. After a groundout, Jarren Duran struck out at the plate, but reached on a dropped third strike as Andrews raced home with the tying run.

Eventually TCU's offensive persistence paid off as the Horned Frogs scored twice in the fifth and three times in the eighth to pull away for the victory.

LBSU will look to take the rubber match on Sunday as Andrews (0-1, 3.00 ERA) faces off with TCU's RHP Sean Wymer (0-0, 10.38 ERA). First pitch from Texas is scheduled for 11 a.m. PT.