Long Beach State University
0-3
Florida
3-0
Dirtbags Fall Short in Series Finale at No. 3 Florida, 3-1
2/17/2019 1:08:00 PM | Baseball
Long Beach State took an early lead on a second-inning home run from junior Aidan Malm, but came up just short in Sunday’s series finale at No. 3 Florida, 3-1. The Dirtbags out-hit the Gators 7-6 on Sunday but were only able to push one run across in Gainesville.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Despite a loss on Sunday afternoon at No. 3 Florida (3-0), there was promise in Long Beach State's (0-3) performance as the Dirtbags played its best baseball of the weekend in a narrow 3-1 defeat. The Dirtbags had seven hits to Florida's six, including a solo home run from junior Aidan Malm that gave Long Beach the lead in the second inning. Unfortunately, the Dirtbags were unable to push any more runs across and a ninth-inning rally fell just a few feet short of extending the game.
Malm led the offense with his homer and he added a single in the sixth inning for his first career multi-hit game. Junior Calvin Estrada also had a pair of knocks, with a double and a single. Santino Rivera added a base hit and freshmen Tyler Porter and Connor Kokx recorded their first career hits on Sunday.
Freshman lefty Alfredo Ruiz made his first start on the mound, going 4.2 innings while allowing three runs (2 ER), six hits, four walks and a pair of strikeouts. The Dirtbags bullpen was flawless as redshirt sophomore Matt Fields delivered 2.1 innings of work with four strikeouts (including three looking) and junior Dylan Spacke navigated a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
Long Beach State left seven runners on base, including one in the ninth as a comeback attempt fell just short. Estrada smoked a double high off the left field wall to start the inning, and Porter hit a drive to the warning track in right field, but the potential game-tying home run ended up just a few feet shy of the wall.
The Dirtbags now return home for a four-game homestand next week. LBSU's home opener is Tuesday night at 6 p.m., welcoming in San Diego. Former Dirtbag and big league catcher Mike Marjama will be the special guest on Opening Night and will throw out the first pitch on Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jack Leftwich (1-0)
L: Ruiz, Alfredo (0-1)
S: Nolan Crisp (2)
Batting:
2B: Estrada, Calvin 1
HR: Malm, Aidan 1
RBI: Malm, Aidan 1
SH: Carlson, Tanner 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Malm, Aidan 1
HBP: Jones, Leonard 1
Batting:
2B: Brady McConnell 1 ; Santino Miozzi 1
RBI: Brady McConnell 1 ; Jud Fabian 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brady McConnell 1 ; Nelson Maldonado 1 ; Santino Miozzi 1
SB: Roberto Pena 1
HBP: Kendrick Calilao 1
