Dirtbags Open Series with Dominant Win Over UC Davis

Friday, April 27

Long Beach, Calif.

6:00 PM

Long Beach State University

18-24, 4-6

UC Davis

13-23, 5-8

UC Davis

Long Beach State

4/27/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 27, 2018

Box Score

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Playing in front of a near-capacity crowd, Long Beach State (18-24, 4-6 Big West) delivered in all phases of the game to earn an 8-0 victory over visiting UC Davis (13-23, 5-8 Big West) in Friday night's series opener. The crowd of 2,978 at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field was the highest of the season, and the 11th highest all-time for the Dirtbags.

Sophomore Zak Baayoun delivered a great start, working 7.2 scoreless innings, scattering six hits and a walk with just a pair of strikeouts. Baayoun was successful in getting the Aggies to put the ball on the ground, collecting 13 of his 23 recorded outs via ground balls. Long Beach State's defense helped him out as well, turning a pair of double plays in the first three innings.

LBSU's offense delivered quick run support, scoring in each of the first two innings on an RBI double from Leonard Jones and a key throwing error from the Aggies that allowed Shaq Robinson to score during a two-out rally. Jones scored a run in the fourth to make it a 3-0 lead, as Chris Jimenez delivered one of his two sacrifice flies on the night.

Dirtbags get the double play to end the top of the 1st! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/ALiFEppeaN
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 28, 2018

A double for Jones makes it 1-0 Dirtbags! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/Suvd7jffci
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 28, 2018

A nice round of applause from a season-best Dirtbags crowd as Zak Baayoun leaves the game in the 8th.
Baayoun: 7.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K.#GoBeach
Top 8: Dirtbags 7, UC Davis 0 pic.twitter.com/23tTKpK8V9
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 28, 2018

A great start tonight from sophomore Zak Baayoun, who tossed 7.2 scoreless innings in the 8-0 win. UC Davis had its hands full with Zak & then he had his hands full with, well, all the things. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/5Xg5r6HNU1
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 28, 2018

The Dirtbags did the little things offensively, delivering four sacrifice bunts and three sacrifice flies on the evening. The game broke open in the seventh when LBSU put four runs on the board. The Dirtbags got just one hit in the inning, working three walks and scoring runs on a bases loaded walk, a sacrifice fly, a wild pitch, and a squeeze bunt.

Freshman Jake Lopez pitched the final 1.1 innings in relief, allowing just a hit while striking out a pair. For Jones, he collected his second straight multi-hit game while Shaq Robinson scored two runs for the second game in a row. He and Santino Rivera were effective turning the lineup over, drawing two walks apiece.

LBSU will look to win the series on Saturday as junior Clayton Andrews (3-7, 3.06 ERA) will get the ball, facing off with RHP Jared Sasaki (3-4, 5.67 ERA) for the Aggies. First pitch is at 2 p.m.