Dirtbags Drop Opener at No. 13 UCSB, 8-2

Friday, May 10

Santa Barbara, Calif.

3 p.m.

Long Beach State University

11-36, 0

UC Santa Barbara

38-7, 0

Long Beach State

UC Santa Barbara

Photo by: John Fajardo

5/10/2019 6:41:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Senior Laine Huffman hit his first home run of the season for the Dirtbags, but the bats went quiet in the later innings as the Dirtbags fell to No. 13 UC Santa Barbara, 8-2, in Friday’s series opener. LBSU took the lead on Cole Joy’s second-inning RBI single but the Gauchos had a pair of three-run innings in the win.

By: Tyler Hendrickson, Associate Athletic Communications Director

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Hosts UC Santa Barbara (38-7, 13-3 Big West) pounded out 15 hits in an 8-2 win over Long Beach State (11-36, 5-11 Big West) in Friday's series opener at Uyesaka Stadium. Senior Laine Huffman hit his first home run of the season for the Dirtbags in the third inning, but LBSU didn't have any hits after the fourth inning in the loss.

LBSU took the lead with a run on three hits in the second inning, a rally that started with a two-out walk by Calvin Estrads. Santino Rivera followed with a line drive single on the next pitch, then Cole Joy delivered an opposite-field RBI single to bring home the game's first run. Kaden Hogan singled to load the bases, but they were stranded full as the Dirtbags settled for one run.

After UCSB scored three runs in the bottom half of the second, Huffman cut the deficit in half with a solo shot to left field. It's the first home run of the season for the redshirt senior and the fourth of his Dirtbags career.

Long Beach State got a single from Estrada and a walk from Joy in the fourth inning, but left both men stranded. From that point on, a two-out walk in the sixth inning by Rivera represented the only baserunner for the Dirtbags the rest of the game.

Defending Big West Pitcher of the Week Adam Seminaris suffered the loss, giving up six runs on 11 hits in five innings of work. Jonathan Carlos and Raul Rizo each allowed one run in their inning of work while Ethan Clough tossed a scoreless seventh inning out of the Dirtbags bullpen.

LBSU will look to even up the series on Saturday as Nick Avila (0-3, 4.30 ERA) will take on UCSB LHP Jack Dashwood (7-1, 2.27 ERA) with a 2 p.m. first pitch.