Tuesday, March 19
Los Angeles, Calif.
6 p.m.
Long Beach State University
2
at
5
USC
Photo by: John Fajardo
DeSa’s Leadoff Blast Not Enough in 5-2 Dirtbags Loss at USC
3/19/2019 10:16:00 PM | Baseball
The Dirtbags had the lead after one batter thanks to a leadoff home run by junior Riki DeSa, but the offense sputtered from that point on in a 5-2 defeat at USC on Tuesday night.
LOS ANGELES – Tuesday night's game got off to a perfect start for Long Beach State (3-16) as junior Riki DeSa led off the game with a no-doubt home run to left, but the rest of the night belonged to host USC (8-11) as the Dirtbags suffered a 5-2 loss at Dedeaux Field.
DeSa followed up his first career home run with a single later in the ballgame, giving him two hits in his first start in the leadoff spot. Jacob Hughey also walked and had an RBI double to have a solid night at the plate. Hughey now has 13 RBIs on the season to lead the team, and has driven in runs in four consecutive games collecting six RBIs in that span.
Following DeSa's leadoff homer, Brooks Stotler and Hughey worked back-to-back walks to keep the rally going. Cleanup man Calvin Estrada nearly changed the game with a three-run home run to left but pulled it just foul. Hughey drove in DeSa in the sixth inning with an RBI double off the center field wall, but that summed up the offense for the Dirtbags on Tuesday.
Junior Sagun Gainey got the start for the Dirtbags, making his second consecutive Tuesday night start for LBSU. He was again touched up by the leadoff hitter as the Trojans opened the bottom of the first with a triple which led to the tying run, but Gainey settled in from there. In Gainey's three innings of work he allowed just the one run on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts, benefitting from a pair of double plays by his defense.
LBSU used a total of six pitchers on Tuesday night, with Tyler Gums picking up his first loss. Gums got to two outs quickly in both his innings, but fell victim to a pair of two-out rallies by the Trojans. Basilio Pacheco struck out the only batter he faced, and Ethan Clough was perfect through four batters with a pair of strikeouts to highlight the bullpen's efforts.
Next up, the Dirtbags will host rivals Cal State Fullerton for a three-game non-conference series this weekend. Game one is Friday at 6 p.m. followed by the customary Friday Night Fireworks display. The series represents LBSU's final home series during non-conference action.
DeSa followed up his first career home run with a single later in the ballgame, giving him two hits in his first start in the leadoff spot. Jacob Hughey also walked and had an RBI double to have a solid night at the plate. Hughey now has 13 RBIs on the season to lead the team, and has driven in runs in four consecutive games collecting six RBIs in that span.
Following DeSa's leadoff homer, Brooks Stotler and Hughey worked back-to-back walks to keep the rally going. Cleanup man Calvin Estrada nearly changed the game with a three-run home run to left but pulled it just foul. Hughey drove in DeSa in the sixth inning with an RBI double off the center field wall, but that summed up the offense for the Dirtbags on Tuesday.
Junior Sagun Gainey got the start for the Dirtbags, making his second consecutive Tuesday night start for LBSU. He was again touched up by the leadoff hitter as the Trojans opened the bottom of the first with a triple which led to the tying run, but Gainey settled in from there. In Gainey's three innings of work he allowed just the one run on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts, benefitting from a pair of double plays by his defense.
LBSU used a total of six pitchers on Tuesday night, with Tyler Gums picking up his first loss. Gums got to two outs quickly in both his innings, but fell victim to a pair of two-out rallies by the Trojans. Basilio Pacheco struck out the only batter he faced, and Ethan Clough was perfect through four batters with a pair of strikeouts to highlight the bullpen's efforts.
Next up, the Dirtbags will host rivals Cal State Fullerton for a three-game non-conference series this weekend. Game one is Friday at 6 p.m. followed by the customary Friday Night Fireworks display. The series represents LBSU's final home series during non-conference action.
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