Early Lead Slips Away as Dirtbags Fall to Cal Poly, 4-2

Thursday, April 18

Long Beach, Calif.

6 p.m.

Long Beach State University

7-28, 2-5

Cal Poly

17-17, 8-2

Cal Poly

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

4/18/2019 9:43:00 PM | Baseball

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Long Beach State scored twice in the bottom of the first to jump out in front, but the visiting Mustangs struck for four runs in the seventh inning to snag a 4-2 victory in the series opener. Three Dirtbags had multi-hit efforts in the loss.

By: Tyler Hendrickson, Associate Athletic Communications Director

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Things were going to plan through six innings on Thursday night on Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. Long Beach State (7-28, 2-5 Big West) took an early lead with two runs in the first inning and starter Adam Seminaris was cruising, but visiting Cal Poly (17-17, 8-2 Big West) put up a four-spot in the seventh inning and held on for a 4-2 victory in the series opener.

Brooks Stotler opened the bottom of the first with an HBP, and Jacob Hughey followed with a double shot past third base. Laine Huffman then hit an infield single to second base as he won the foot race to the bag with the Cal Poly pitcher, making it 1-0 Dirtbags before an out was recorded in the inning. A Victor Carlino sacrifice fly scored Hughey to make it a 2-0 Long Beach lead after the first frame.

Unfortunately, the offense went quiet from there, with only five hits and a walk the rest of the evening. A trio of Dirtbags did record two-hit games as Hughey, Huffman and Aidan Malm each went 2-for-4 in the game.

Seminaris ended up with a quality start, covering 6.1 innings while allowing three runs on six hits and matching his season high in strikeouts with seven. He was in cruise control until the seventh, when three of the first four batters reached against him and set up the four-run rally. The Mustangs had four of their nine hits in that seventh inning, including three doubles. They also drew their only walk of the night to start the inning.

Reliever Tyler Gums covered the final 2.2 innings, giving up one run on three hits with a pair of punchouts to keep things within striking distance in the late innings.

For Hughey at the plate, he continues to swing a hot bat. The junior is on a five-game hitting streak with four multi-hit games in that stretch. He is 9-for-20 (.450) over his last five contests with five runs score, four RBIs, a pair of doubles and a stolen base.

LBSU will look to even the series on Friday night with Nick Avila (0-1, 4.45 ERA) getting the start against RHP Bobby Ay (4-0, 2.87 ERA) for Cal Poly. First pitch is at 6 p.m. with postgame fireworks to follow.