Long Beach State Falls Just Short in 4-3 Loss to Titans

Saturday, March 23

Long Beach, Calif.

6 p.m.

Long Beach State University

3-18

Cal State Fullerton

10-10

Cal State Fullerton

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

3/23/2019 10:10:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Dirtbags fell just short on Saturday night against their rivals, ending up on the wrong end of a 4-3 final score. Five different Dirtbags recorded a base hit, and Nick Avila had his best outing of the season in relief, but LBSU couldn’t complete a comeback.

By: Tyler Hendrickson, Associate Athletic Communications Director

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State (3-18) dropped game two of its weekend series with Cal State Fullerton (10-10) on Saturday evening, losing a 4-3 decision to the Titans. LBSU had its opportunity late, scoring twice in the eighth inning to get within a run, but the Dirtbags stranded the bases loaded to move to 1-4 in one-run games this season.

Long Beach State's five hits were spread among five different batters, with Jacob Hughey and Jake Vander Wal each recording a single and a walk in the ball game. Calvin Estrada recorded a pinch-hit single in the eighth and was brought home on a bases-loaded walk by Vander Wal to make it 4-3. Aidan Malm singled two batters prior to plate Riki DeSa and pick up an RBI.

Aidan Malm! station to station for the Dirtbags here as the bases are still loaded with 1 out here in the bottom of the 8th! 4-2 Dirtbags trail looking for more! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/rtdSF3IOKE
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) March 24, 2019

The other run for Long Beach State came in the bottom of the third inning, which cut the Titans lead at the time to 3-1. Brooks Stotler had a two-out single up the middle to score Kaden Hogan.

Stotler! gets the Dirtbags on the board as it is now a 3-1 game! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/BilEWp4DaY
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) March 24, 2019

Sophomore Adam Seminaris was one out away from earning his fourth consecutive quality start, but lasted 5.2 innings surrendering seven hits and three runs (one earned) with a pair of strikeouts. Junior Nick Avila entered the game in relief and worked the final 3.1 innings, a new career high, allowing one run on two hits while matching his career high with four strikeouts.

LBSU will look to salvage the final game of this non-conference series on Sunday as RHP Sagun Gainey (0-1, 3.60) will make his second start of the week after he got the ball to start LBSU's road game at USC on Tuesday. He will be opposed by Titans RHP Michael Knorr (1-1, 6.35 ERA) with a 1 p.m. first pitch.