Dirtbags Face Another Top 10 Test at One-Loss Arizona State

Tuesday, April 2
Long Beach State at Arizona State
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Watch: ASU Live Stream | Listen: 22 West Radio | Live Stats

Probable Pitching Matchup:
LBSU – RHP Matt Fields (0-0, 6.75 ERA)
vs.
ASU – TBA

LAST TIME OUT
•   The Dirtbags suffered a sweep at Cal over the weekend, surrendering a surprising nine home runs to the Golden Bears. Even while facing an elite schedule, Dirtbags pitchers had only allowed seven home runs all season entering the weekend.
•   Sophomore C Chris Jimenez had a career-high four RBIs in Saturday's game to help push Long Beach State into the lead in the seventh inning. Unfortunately, the hosts responded with six runs in the bottom half of the inning to pull out the win.
•   Junior Jake Vander Wal launched a three-run home run in the series finale, giving him the team lead with two dingers on the year. He is also second on the squad in RBIs with 10.

SCOUTING THE SUN DEVILS
•   Arizona State boasts the best win-loss record in the nation, sitting 25-1 with a 5-4 loss at Oregon on Mar. 23 standing as the team's only blemish this year. The Sun Devils are 8-1 in Pac-12 play after sweeping in-state rivals Arizona over the weekend. ASU scored at least eight runs in every game and won a thriller in the finale, 17-16, thanks to the team's 15 walks drawn.
•   The ASU offense ranks among the nation's leaders in several offensive categories, including runs scored (259), batting average (.338), and home runs (44). All 10 qualified batters are hitting .281 or better for ASU and nine players have double-digit RBIs. Junior CF Hunter Bishop is the standout for the Sun Devils, batting .424 with 16 home runs, 40 RBIs, and an absurd 1.040 slugging percentage this season.
•   Arizona State's pitching staff has been solid as well, with a team ERA of 3.06 and opponents batting average of just .234. Though the bullpen was put to work over the weekend against Arizona, there is versatility in the pen as five different arms have recorded at least one save while making 12 or more appearances for the Sun Devils this season.
•   These teams met twice last season in Long Beach and played very different games. ASU won the first game 1-0 before the Dirtbags responded with a 16-4 victory in the second meeting. LBSU was swept in its last trip to Phoenix during the 2017 season, and ASU owns a 45-14 advantage in the all-time series.

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.
•   The 2019 MLB season got underway with 10 former Dirtbags featured on Opening Day rosters to start the year: Troy Tulowitzki (Yankees), Evan Longoria (Giants), Jason Vargas (Mets), Bryan Shaw (Rockies), Nick Vincent (Giants), Marco Estrada (A's), Jared Hughes (Reds), Matt Duffy (Rays), Shane Carle (Braves), Garrett Hampson (Rockies), and Jeff McNeil (Mets).
•   Long Beach State also has representation among the coaching ranks as former players Brandon Hyde and Jeremy Reed are in their first years serving key roles in their respective dugouts. Hyde is the manager of the Baltimore Orioles and Reed is the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

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Players Mentioned

Matt Fields

Chris Jimenez

Jake Vander Wal

Long Beach State University Athletics