Andrews Leads Dirtbags to 1-0 Shutout of UC Irvine

Saturday, April 7

Long Beach, Calif.

2:00 PM

Long Beach State University

12-19, 1-1

UC Irvine

16-13, 2-3

UC Irvine

Long Beach State

4/7/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 7, 2018

Box Score | Photo Gallery

LONG BEACH, Calif. - For the first time all season, Long Beach State (12-19, 1-1 Big West) was able to win the second game of a series. On Saturday afternoon at Blair Field, the Dirtbags were able to shut out UC Irvine (16-13, 2-3 Big West) with a crucial 1-0 win to even the weekend series.

Junior Clayton Andrews delivered another terrific start, going 8+ innings, allowing five hits and just one walk while matching his career high with 11 strikeouts. He also fanned 11 batters a week ago at Fresno State, but was the tough-luck loser in that game. On Saturday, the Dirtbags gave Andrews a run in the third inning and that's all he would need. Santino Rivera drilled a one-out double to left, then scored on a Jarren Duran single to second base that trickled into the outfield.

Jarren Duran gets the Dirtbags on the board with the RBI single! 1-0 Dirtbags after 3. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/UerMNm0l5F
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 7, 2018

Sliding grab by Tristan Mercadel! #SCtop10 #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/rXQ6ifHshA
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 7, 2018

Clayton Andrews records his 11th strikeout to end the 8th inning! That matches his career high in K's! Dirtbags still lead 1-0. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/iR3RUG4ZFK
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 7, 2018

Here's the man of the hour, @clayton1andrews, who threw 8+ shutout innings today to lead LBSU to a 1-0 win! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/Asbb47d6py
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 8, 2018

With his eight shutout innings, Andrews lowered his ERA to 2.66 on the season. Coupled with his .284 average at the plate, Andrews now leads the Dirtbags in both batting average and ERA. The junior attempted to go for the complete game in the ninth inning, but after an infield single to begin the frame, Troy Buckley turned to his bullpen to get closer Chris Rivera. The junior righthander came in from the ‘pen and shut things down, retiring the three Anteaters he faced to secure his eighth save of the season and give LBSU's its second 1-0 victory of the season.

The Dirtbags defense also picked up Andrews on the mound, especially in the sixth inning. In consecutive at bats, CF Brooks Stotler made a great running grab in the left-centerfield gap, then RF Tristan Mercadel made a great sliding catch in foul territory to retire the first two batters in the UCI batting order.

Long Beach State will look to win the series on Sunday with redshirt junior Tyler Radcliffe (1-3, 3.91 ERA) making the start. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.