Long Beach State Battles Back, But Bullpen Can’t Hold Lead at Cal

Saturday, March 30

Berkeley, Calif.

3 p.m.

Long Beach State University

3-22

California

13-11

Long Beach State

California

Photo by: John Fajardo

Long Beach State Battles Back, But Bullpen Can’t Hold Lead at Cal

3/30/2019 7:00:00 PM | Baseball

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The Dirtbags scored twice in the sixth and three times in the seventh to come from behind and take a 5-4 lead, but a six-run seventh inning proved to be the deciding moment in a 10-5 win for Cal. Sophomore Chris Jimenez had four RBIs to lead the Long Beach State offense.

By: Tyler Hendrickson, Associate Athletic Communications Director

BERKELEY, Calif. – Long Beach State (3-22) trailed 3-0 after five innings, but battled back to take a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning at California (13-11) on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, the host Golden Bears put up six runs in the bottom half of the inning, keying a 10-5 victory for the home team as they clinched the series.

Sophomore catcher Chris Jimenez led the Long Beach State offense with four RBIs on Saturday, collecting a pair of two-run singles in consecutive innings to give the Dirtbags the lead in the top of the seventh. Luke Rasmussen and Chase Luttrell also had a pair of hits for Long Beach State, and freshman Kaden Hogan was 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, extending his hitting streak to three games.

Jimenez was LBSU's RBI leader with 32 as a freshman last season, and finally broke through with four in Saturday's ballgame. Santino Rivera also had an RBI with a bases-loaded walk, and scored a run as well. Interesting enough, Jimenez was thrown out on the basepaths to end both the sixth and seventh innings. He was first thrown out at the plate trying to score on a double by Jacob Hughey, then was out trying to turn his single into a double in the seventh.

Junior RHP Nick Avila made his first start for Long Beach State and had his career-long outing, going five innings while allowing three runs on seven hits with a walk and a strikeout. Interestingly enough, the first batter that all four Dirtbags pitchers faced would come around to score for the Golden Bears, as all three relievers surrendered runs after Avila. Cal used the long ball once again, hitting a pair of solo home runs to take the lead back in the bottom of the seventh, starting off that six-run frame.

The Dirtbags will look to salvage the final game of this three-game series in Berkeley. RHP Sagun Gainey (0-1, 1.93 ERA) will get the start for Long Beach State while there has not been a starter announced for Cal. First pitch from Evans Diamond is at 1 p.m. on Sunday.