Long Beach State Drops UC Riverside in Series Opener

Friday, May 4

Riverside, Calif.

6:00 PM

Long Beach State University

19-26, 5-8

UC Riverside

16-24, 5-8

Long Beach State

UC Riverside

5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 4, 2018

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Dirtbags offense was persistent in its attack on Friday night, collecting 15 hits to push Long Beach State (19-26, 5-8 Big West) past host UC Riverside (16-24, 5-8 Big West) by a 6-2 margin. LBSU scored five of its six runs with two outs and went an impressive 7-for-12 (.583) with runners in scoring position.

Three players had three-hit games for Long Beach State, with Jarren Duran, Leonard Jones and Shaq Robinson each going 3-for-5 on the night. The three hits matched career highs for Duran and Jones and established a new personal best for Robinson, who also added an RBI.

Duran was on base consistently, scoring three times and stealing two bases. He also had an RBI double in the third inning to score Clayton Andrews, who had two hits and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Jones opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with an RBI double to left center, scoring Duran to make it 1-0 Dirtbags. He also added RBI singles in the third and the seventh to establish a new career high with three runs batted in.

The duo of Leonard Jones (@LJones_20) & Jarren Duran combined for 6 hits, 3 runs & 4 RBIs in tonight's 6-2 win at UC Riverside. Here's what they had to say about the win. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/BYH96Q0a4n
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) May 5, 2018

The runs were in support of Dirtbags starter Zak Baayoun, who threw seven strong innings, allowing two runs on a pair of solo home runs by the Highlanders. In total he allowed five hits and a walk while striking out eight to pick up his eighth win of the season. LBSU was also solid defensively, highlighted by a terrific over-the-shoulder catch by Duran in the seventh inning. The junior second baseman retreated into center field, and made a basket catch facing away from home plate, sliding to his knees as he controlled the catch.

Sophomore Dylan Spacke covered the final two innings to collect his first career save and ended the game with a strikeout swinging.

LBSU will look to clinch the series on Saturday, as the game will again have a 6 p.m. start and will be streamed online on ESPN3. Andrews (3-7, 2.75 ERA) will get the start, facing off with RHP Jared Morton (2-2, 3.48 ERA) for the Highlanders.