LBSU Closes Pre-Conference Home Slate Tuesday vs. USC

Tuesday, March 26
Long Beach State vs. USC
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Watch: Beach Vision Live Stream | Listen: 22 West Radio | Live Stats

Probable Pitching Matchup:
LBSU – RHP Matt Fields (0-0, 3.38 ERA)
vs.
USC – LHP Brian Gursky (0-1, 9.95 ERA)

LAST TIME OUT
•   Long Beach State suffered a sweep against Cal State Fullerton over the weekend, and the Dirtbags are now on a five-game losing streak. Including Tuesday's contest, LBSU will have played 12 of their last 13 games at home before embarking on an eight-game road trip starting this weekend at Cal. LBSU is beginning a five-game stretch against Pac-12 opponents with USC, Cal and Arizona State all on the upcoming slate.
•   Senior Brooks Stotler had a solid series against Cal State Fullerton, going 6-for-11 (.545) with three doubles. On Sunday he set a new career high with four hits, and also doubled twice in the team's 5-1 loss. Stotler now leads the team with 10 runs scored on the season and is a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts.
•   Tuesday's probable starter Matt Fields hasn't appeared in a game since starting Mar. 2 at Ole Miss as he has recovered from injury. He is set to make his third start and fourth appearance of the season on Tuesday, and has seven strikeouts in 8.0 innings pitched this year.

SCOUTING THE TROJANS
•   Since defeating the Dirtbags 5-2 one week ago, the Trojans were swept at Washington over the weekend, losing a pair of one-run games on 10^th-inning walk-offs to close out the series. USC is now 2-6 away from Dedeaux Field this season.
•   Sophomore 1B/OF Jamal O'Guinn is hitting .282 and leads the team with three homers and 15 RBIs. Sophomore INF Ben Ramirez is the leading active hitter in the lineup at .302, while catcher CJ Stubbs is batting .296 while leading the Trojans in doubles (7) and slugging percentage (.481).
•   Probable starter Brian Gursky has made six appearances and one start so far this season. The sophomore righthander has surrendered 14 runs in 12.2 innings pitched this season, with nine walks and nine strikeouts. Opposing batters are hitting .313 against him including four home runs hit.
•   Just one week ago, the Trojans defeated the Dirtbags, 5-2, allowing just three hits to Long Beach State in the contest. Riki DeSa led off the game with a solo home run to left field and Jacob Hughey added an RBI double to round out LBSU's offensive production. USC now leads the all-time series 85-46 but has just a 45-35 edge since 1989.

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.

Calendar

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Riki DeSa

Matt Fields

Jacob Hughey

Brooks Stotler

Long Beach State University Athletics