Dirtbags Can’t Climb Out of Early Hole in 8-4 Loss at No. 13 UCSB

Sunday, May 12

Santa Barbara, Calif.

1 p.m.

Long Beach State University

11-38, 0

UC Santa Barbara

40-7, 0

Long Beach State

UC Santa Barbara

Photo by: BaileyLeFever

Dirtbags Can’t Climb Out of Early Hole in 8-4 Loss at No. 13 UCSB

5/12/2019 5:14:00 PM | Baseball

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Long Beach State fell behind 6-0 after the first inning and were unable to mount a comeback in Sunday afternoon’s series finale at No. 13 UC Santa Barbara. The Dirtbags outscored the Gauchos 4-2 after the first inning, however, getting a three-run home run from Aidan Malm in the fifth.

By: Tyler Hendrickson, Associate Athletic Communications Director

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Long Beach State (11-38, 5-13 Big West) dropped the series finale at No. 13 UC Santa Barbara (40-7, 15-3 Big West) on Sunday afternoon. The Dirtbags fell behind 6-0 after the first inning and were unable to climb out of the early deficit.

Junior Aidan Malm hit his second home run of the season in the fifth inning, cutting the deficit in half with a three-run shot over the left field wall. It gave the Dirtbags a home run in each game of the series in Santa Barbara as he joined Chris Jimenez and Laine Huffman.

Jimenez had the other RBI for the Dirtbags, hitting a single in the ninth inning to score Victor Carlino who walked to start the inning. Jacob Hughey singled to put men on the corners but LBSU was unable to prolong the rally. Freshman Chase Luttrell added a pair of singles on the day and Riki DeSa was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks while getting his first start at third base.

Zak Baayoun had a tough first inning on the mound, allowing six runs on seven hits, but he battled through the next three scoreless innings to give the Dirtbags a chance to come back. After Malm's three-run homer, Alfredo Ruiz entered the game in relief. The freshman worked three innings, allowing two runs on five hits. That snapped his scoreless innings streak at 17 consecutive innings. Junior closer Dylan Spack worked a perfect eighth inning for the Dirtbags.

LBSU will be back in Southern California for the rest of the season, visiting Cal State Fullerton for a three-game series next weekend, beginning Thursday night at 7 p.m. on ESPNU. The Dirtbags close out the season with a home series against Hawai'i May 23-25.