Dirtbags Begin 2019 Season at No. 3 Florida

Friday, February 15
Long Beach State at No. 3 Florida
Time: 3:30 p.m. PT
Location: Alfred A. McKethan Stadium (Gainesville, Fla.)
Watch: SEC Network+ | Listen: 22 West Radio | Live Stats

Saturday, February 16
Long Beach State at No. 3 Florida
Time: 1 p.m. PT
Location: Alfred A. McKethan Stadium (Gainesville, Fla.)
Watch: SEC Network+ | Listen: 22 West Radio | Live Stats

Sunday, February 17
Long Beach State at No. 3 Florida
Time: 9 a.m. PT
Location: Alfred A. McKethan Stadium (Gainesville, Fla.)
Watch: SEC Network+ | Live Stats

A LOOK BACK AT 2018
•   The Dirtbags again played one of the most challenging non-conference schedules in the nation in 2018, struggling through an injury-plagued campaign that resulted in the first losing season under head coach Troy Buckley. LBSU did have some standout moments, including a season sweep of UCLA, a series win at rivals Cal State Fullerton for the third consecutive season, and a 9-4 finish to the season.
•   Junior Clayton Andrews had a record-setting year on the mound and in center field. He was the first Dirtbags pitcher to lead the team in ERA (1.99), innings pitched (99.2) and strikeouts (118) during the same season since Jered Weaver in 2004, when he was the unanimous National Player of the Year. Andrews won five Big West Pitcher of the Week awards and LBSU as a team won eight of the 15 awarded last season. Returning junior Zak Baayoun picked up that honor twice in 2018.

SCOUTING THE GATORS
•   Florida enters the 2019 season as a consensus Top 5 team in the nation after a successful 2018 season that included a fourth straight trip to the College World Series, a 49-21 record and an SEC regular season championship.
•   The Gators had seven players taken in the 2018 MLB Draft, with three going in the first round: INF Jonathan India (5th overall), RHP Brady Singer (18th overall) and RHP Jackson Kowar (33rd overall).
•   UF will have experience in the outfield with junior Austin Langworth (.290, 33 R, 29 RBIs, .404 OBP) and junior Wil Dalton (.262, 60 R, 19 HR, 60 RBIs, .542 SLG) returning after appearing in all 70 games last season. On the mound, sophomore RHP Jack Leftwich (5-5, 4.20 ERA, 81.1 IP, 84 Ks) returns in the rotation and junior RHP Tyler Dyson (5-3, 4.47 ERA, 50.1 IP, 51 Ks) is a Second Team Preseason All-SEC selection for the Gators.
•   Long Beach State is 3-6 all-time against Florida, playing three-game series in 1991, '92 and '93. LBSU last played a road game at Florida in 1992, but did take part in the Gainesville Regional in 2014. The Dirtbags and Gators never met, however, with LBSU only facing North Carolina and College of Charleston.

LOOK WHO'S BACK
•   Last season's primary Friday starter Zak Baayoun returns for his junior season after earning Second Team All-Big West recognition last year. Baayoun opened the year with 12 strikeouts in an Opening Night win over St. Mary's in his first career start, and ended up winning nine games for LBSU as a full-time starter.
•   Sophomore southpaw Adam Seminaris was used in a dual role as a midweek starter and reliever during his freshman campaign, making 10 starts and 11 relief appearances in 2018, posting a 4.84 ERA in 57.2 innings. The only other returning pitcher with relief experience last season is junior RHP Dylan Spacke, who was mostly a setup man but also earned LBSU's last three saves of the season, with 43 K's in 35.2 IP and a 4.54 ERA.
•   Offensively, CF Brooks Stotler has plenty of experience with 130 games played in his career and will be looking to take the next step at the plate this season. DH Luke Rasmussen is back for his redshirt senior season and will look to shake off his injury to return to his status as a power hitter and run producer for the Beach. Senior SS Laine Huffman also missed most of last season with injury and will be a leader for the Dirtbags upon his return to the lineup. Sophomore C Chris Jimenez made 54 starts last season as a backstop (49 starts) and at third base (5 starts), leading the team with 32 RBIs.

LB IN MLB
•   Long Beach State had more former players in the big leagues than any other college or university from 2010-17, with 13 MLB representatives in 2018, again placing the Dirtbags among the nation's leaders.
•   Three Dirtbags made their MLB debuts last season, all in the span of two weeks. RHP Drew Gagnon debuted for the Mets on July 10, followed by infielder Garrett Hampson's debut on July 21 for the Rockies and INF Jeff McNeil on July 24 for the Mets.

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Players Mentioned

Clayton Andrews

Zak Baayoun

Laine Huffman

Chris Jimenez

Luke Rasmussen

Adam Seminaris

Dylan Spacke

Brooks Stotler

Long Beach State University Athletics