Dirtbags Conclude Road Slate With Rivalry Series at Cal State Fullerton

Thursday, May 16
Long Beach State at Cal State Fullerton
Time: 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
Location: Fullerton, Calif. (Goodwin Field)
WatchESPN | Listen: 22 West Radio | Live Stats

Friday, May 17
Long Beach State at Cal State Fullerton
Time: 8:15 p.m.
Location: Fullerton, Calif. (Goodwin Field)
Watch: Big West TV | Listen: 22 West Radio | Live Stats

Saturday, May 18
Long Beach State at Cal State Fullerton
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Fullerton, Calif. (Goodwin Field)
Watch: Big West TV | Listen: 22 West Radio | Live Stats

LAST TIME OUT
•   The Dirtbags went 0-4 last week on the road while facing the two teams that lead the nation in winning percentage. LBSU is now 3-16 against nationally ranked teams with 14 of those games coming on the road. The Dirtbags are 2-3 in home games against ranked teams this season and 1-13 away from Blair Field.
•   Long Beach State hit a home run in every game of the series at UC Santa Barbara, getting dingers from Laine Huffman, Chris Jimenez, and Aidan Malm, respectively. It was the first of the season for Huffman, the first in Jimenez's career and the second for Malm, who hit a three-run shot in the fifth inning on Sunday to cut a 6-0 deficit in half.
•   Junior Riki DeSa got his first start at third base on Sunday and was 1-for-2 with a run scored and a pair of walks. DeSa had appeared at third base once before, but Sunday was his first start at the hot corner. He has also started eight games in left field, two at second base and two as the designated hitter this season.
•   Also in Sunday's game, freshman LHP Alfredo Ruiz saw his scoreless innings streak snapped at 17 IP. Working out of the bullpen, Ruiz had made six straight scoreless appearances over the past month before allowing a pair of runs in 3.0 innings to the Big West's best offense.

SCOUTING THE TITANS
•   Cal State Fullerton won its third series of the year last weekend at UC Riverside, winning the first two games by scoring a combined 24 runs before losing the finale, 8-3. Interestingly, the Titans actually have a 14-10 record in road and neutral site games this season but are just 8-15 at home.
•   Senior CF Mitchell Berryhill has a team-leading .419 batting average, .498 on-base percentage and 16 stolen bases in 18 attempts. Junior LF Isaiah Garcia had seven hits in the UC Riverside series to bring his average up to .343 on the season and he leads the Titans with 33 RBIs.
•   The Titans' offense ranks second in the Big West contest behind UC Santa Barbara in many key statistical categories. Fullerton is second in the conference in batting average, on-base percentage, runs scored, hits, RBIs, triples, and walks, among others.
•   Fullerton's pitching staff has had some uncharacteristic struggles this season, posting a team ERA of 5.12. Sophomore ace Tanner Bibee is 5-7 in 13 starts with a 4.36 ERA, but has allowed opposing hitters to post a .298 average against him, surrendering 30 extra-base hits (20 doubles, three triples, seven home runs) on the season. Freshman Michael Weisberg has taken on the closer role, collecting six saves in 17.1 innings with 12 strikeouts and a 4.67 ERA.
•   Cal State Fullerton swept the Dirtbags earlier this season at Blair Field, but Long Beach State has had success lately at Goodwin Field. The Dirtbags have won three consecutive series in Fullerton dating back to 2016.

ALL HANDS ON DECK
•   Seventeen position players have appeared in 20 or more games and recorded at least 30 at-bats this season for the Dirtbags, with 16 of them making 10 or more starts.
•   The Dirtbags have used four or more different starters at every position except shortstop. Long Beach State has sent out seven different starting left fielders this season and nine different DH's.
•   On the mound, eight different pitchers have recorded a start for the Dirtbags, with each of them making three or more. LBSU has used 13 pitchers overall, with each of them tossing at least 10 innings.

LB IN MLB
•   Long Beach State had more former players in the big leagues than any other college or university from 2010-17, with 13 MLB representatives in 2018, again placing the Dirtbags among the nation's leaders.
•   Three Dirtbags made their MLB debuts last season, all in the span of two weeks. RHP Drew Gagnon debuted for the Mets on July 10, followed by infielder Garrett Hampson's debut on July 21 for the Rockies and INF Jeff McNeil on July 24 for the Mets.
•   The 2019 MLB season got underway with 10 former Dirtbags featured on Opening Day rosters to start the year: Troy Tulowitzki (Yankees), Evan Longoria (Giants), Jason Vargas (Mets), Bryan Shaw (Rockies), Nick Vincent (Giants), Marco Estrada (A's), Jared Hughes (Reds), Matt Duffy (Rays), Shane Carle (Braves), Garrett Hampson (Rockies), and Jeff McNeil (Mets).
•   RHP Drew Gagnon made his season debut with the New York Mets on Apr. 16, giving Long Beach State 11 representatives on big league rosters. That puts LBSU one ahead of Cal State Fullerton for the nation's lead.
• Long Beach State also has representation among the coaching ranks as former players Brandon Hyde and Jeremy Reed are in their first years serving key roles in their respective dugouts. Hyde is the manager of the Baltimore Orioles and Reed is the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Calendar

Dirtbags Conclude Road Slate With Rivalry Series at Cal State Fullerton

Players Mentioned

Riki DeSa

Laine Huffman

Chris Jimenez

Aidan Malm

Alfredo Ruiz

Long Beach State University Athletics