Dirtbags Comeback Falls Short in Ninth Inning

Saturday, April 20

Long Beach, Calif.

2 p.m.

Long Beach State University

7-30, 2-7

Cal Poly

19-17, 10-2

Cal Poly

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

4/20/2019 6:25:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Long Beach State loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth inning but couldn’t push the tying run across in a 5-4 loss to Cal Poly on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Kaden Hogan had three hits to match his career high and also launched his first career home run in the game.

By: Tyler Hendrickson, Associate Athletic Communications Director

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Saturday's loss had a little extra sting for Long Beach State (7-30, 2-7 Big West) as the Dirtbags loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth inning but couldn't push across the tying run in a 5-4 loss against Cal Poly (19-17, 10-2 Big West) on Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.

Freshman Kaden Hogan launched his first career home run to help fuel a Dirtbags comeback in the second inning, one of three hits on the afternoon as he matched his career high. LBSU scored four times in the second to erase a 4-0 deficit suffered in the top of the first.

BOOM!!! Kaden Hogan drills his first career home run to put the Dirtbags on the board! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/UkVsVNh0aN
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 20, 2019

Junior Jacob Hughey extended his hitting streak to seven games, which is the longest for a Dirtbags player this season. Hughey was 3-for-5 on the day with a run scored. Chris Jimenez led off for the Beach and was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and a run scored. Senior Laine Huffman also had a big two-run single to tie the game during that four-run rally in the second.

We're tied!! Laine Huffman singles to right center to score Jimenez & Hughey! 4-4 game in the 2nd inning! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/KMGCyplB1M
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 20, 2019

LBSU got a walk from Jimenez, a single from Hguhey, then a hit-by-pitch from Huffman to start the bottom of the ninth, but a pair of Cal Poly relievers combined to strike out the side as the Dirtbags left three runners stranded. Long Beach State left a total of 11 runners on base in the game.

After allowing four runs in the top of the first inning, starter Zak Baayoun settled in to allow five runs in four innings pitched. From there, the Dirtbags bullpen was rock solid. Freshman Alfredo Ruiz worked a near-perfect four innings, giving up just one hit while collecting four strikeouts. Junior Dylan Spacke retired the last three Mustangs to keep it a one-run game in the ninth.

The Dirtbags are on the road for four games next week, visiting LMU on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before taking a trip up to play UC Davis next weekend in Big West play.