Late Rallies Lift Dirtbags Over Hawai'i, 5-4

Friday, May 24

Long Beach, Calif.

6 p.m.

Long Beach State University

13-41, 7-16

Hawai'i

20-29, 8-15

Hawai'i

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

5/24/2019 9:53:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Long Beach State scored four times in its final two turns at bat to earn a 5-4 comeback win against Hawai’i on Friday night. Calvin Estrada led the way for the Dirtbags with three RBIs and Aidan Malm had the game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth to help LBSU clinch the series.

By: Tyler Hendrickson, Associate Athletic Communications Director

PHOTO GALLERY

LONG BEACH, Calif. – With two runs in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth, the DIrtbags (13-41, 7-16 Big West) mounted a pair of late comebacks to defeat Hawai'i (20-29, 8-15 Big West), 5-4, on Friday night on Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. LBSU trailed 3-1 entering the bottom of the seventh and 4-3 entering the bottom of the eighth, but put up a pair in each inning to secure the series victory over the Rainbow Warriors.

Junior Calvin Estrada had a pair of hits and matched his career high with 3 RBIs in the victory. He gave Long Beach State the lead with a run-scoring single in the second inning, then tied the game with a two-run knock in the seventh.

Five different Dirtbags scored runs on Friday night, and Jacob Hughey and Aidan Malm added RBIs in the eighth inning to secure the win. Hughey hit a sacrifice fly to left that was dropped by the Hawai'i outfielder, putting him at second base with one out. Two batters later, Malm delivered a jam-shot single to right field to bring Hughey home for the winning run.

Freshman Alfredo Ruiz got the start on the mound and recorded a quality start, allowing three runs in six innings. He surrendered four hits and had to navigate around four walks, but limited the damage to one three-run third inning. Jonathan Carlos pitched a scoreless seventh inning before Dylan Spacke covered the final two frames to pick up his first win of the season. Spacke allowed a solo home run in the eighth but delivered a scoreless ninth to protect the one-run lead.

Friday's win was the first time Long Beach State has won a game when trailing after six innings, improving to 1-36 on the year. LBSU has now won three of its last four home series and has won five straight games at Blair Field. The Dirtbags will look for their second sweep of the season in Saturday's series finale.

Senior Night festivities are scheduled to begin at around 5:30 on Saturday, with the departing class of 2019 to be honored on the field. Long Beach State will also welcome back the Original 1989 Dirtbags during a special ceremony during Saturday's contest, celebrating the team's 30^th anniversary. Dirtbags senior John Sheaks (1-1, 7.84 ERA) will get the start, facing RHP Logan Pouelsen (3-2, 3.98 ERA) for Hawai'i with a 6 p.m. first pitch.