Long Beach State Loses Heartbreaker at UC Davis, 3-2

Saturday, April 27

Davis, Calif.

1 p.m.

Long Beach State University

8-32, 2-9

UC Davis

14-22, 5-9

Long Beach State

UC Davis

Photo by: John Fajardo

4/27/2019 3:58:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Dirtbags were cruising with a 2-0 lead through seven innings, but UC Davis scored three times in the eighth. taking the lead with the help of a costly error to stun Long Beach, 3-2, on Saturday. Freshman Chase Luttrell launched his first career home run in the loss.

By: Tyler Hendrickson, Associate Athletic Communications Director

DAVIS, Calif. – Long Beach State (8-32, 2-9 Big West) got a terrific start from junior Nick Avila, but he ended up the tough-luck loser after UC Davis (14-22, 5-9 Big West) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth, taking the lead on a costly error to snag a 3-2 win and stun the Dirtbags on Saturday afternoon.

Freshman Chase Luttrell launched his first career home run, and junior Jake Vander Wal had a pair of doubles and a run scored in the loss. Six different Dirtbags collected hits offensively and Chris Jimenez walked twice at the top of the order.

Avila lasted 7.2 innings, recording the longest outing of any Dirtbags starter this season. He previously pitched 7.1 innings against CSUN on Apr. 13, which also resulted in a 3-2 Dirtbags loss. Avila allowed just one single and one walk through the first seven innings, and going into the eighth he had retired 10 consecutive Aggies.

UC Davis picked up a pair of singles in the inning and finally cracked the scoreboard with a 2-out RBI double to knock Avila from the game with two men in scoring position. Reliever Tyler Gums came in and forced a ground ball, but a fielding error allowed both runners to come in and score to give the Aggies the lead.

LBSU got on the board in the second inning with the help of Vander Wal's one-out double. Santino Rivera singled to put runners at the corners, setting the Dirtbags up for a double steal which allowed Vander Wal to score the first run of the day. Luttrell then doubled the lead in the fourth with a solo shot to right field, sending it well over the wall for his first collegiate home run. Unfortunately, the Dirtbags had just one hit the rest of the ballgame after Luttrrell's long ball. Of LBSU's seven hits on Saturday, four of them went for extra bases.

The Dirtbags will look to snag a game on Sunday afternoon in a battle of southpaws. Zak Baayoun (2-7, 5.37 ERA) will get the start for Long Beach State while Chris Brown (2-4, 3.38 ERA) will toe the runner for the Aggies. First pitch at Dobbins Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.