Seminaris Goes Eight Strong, Dirtbags Drop Highlanders, 6-1

Friday, May 3

Long Beach, Calif.

6 p.m.

Long Beach State University

9-34, 3-10

UC Riverside

16-27, 5-8

UC Riverside

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

5/3/2019 10:02:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Sophomore lefthander Adam Seminaris set new career bests in innings pitched (8.0) and strikeouts (10) as the Dirtbags took care of UC Riverside in Friday night’s series opener with a 6-1 victory. Chris Jimenez had two hits and two RBIs to pace the offense.

By: Tyler Hendrickson, Associate Athletic Communications Director

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Behind a terrific start from sophomore LHP Adam Seminaris, Long Beach State (9-34, 3-10 Big West) cruised to a comfortable 6-1 victory over UC Riverside (16-27, 5-8 Big West) on Friday night. Seminaris set new career highs in innings and strikeouts to help lead the Dirtbags to the series-opening win.

The Dirtbags bullpen needed to get just three outs as Seminaris powered through eight full innings, stranding the bases loaded in the sixth and the eighth. It's the first time he's gone past seven innings in his career, and his effort was punctuated by a career-best 10 strikeouts.

Number 10! Adam Seminaris gets this K swinging to reach double-digit strikeouts for the first time in his career! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/VBT2Re608z
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) May 4, 2019

He did allow eight hits and a pair of walks, but was able to work out of trouble and strand 11 Highlanders on base. Seminaris struck out the final batter in each of the first four innings, and recorded at least one strikeout in seven of his eight innings of work. Reliever Dylan Spacke struck out a pair of Highlanders in the ninth inning to give Dirtbags pitchers a dozen punchouts as a team.

The offense was paced again by leadoff man Chris Jimenez, who had a pair of hits, including a two-out, two-run single to close out a four-run fourth inning for the Dirtbags. Chase Luttrell was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored and Santino Rivera also had a pair of hits and a run. Both Luttrell and Rivera picked up their second stolen bases of the season as well.

LBSU started early with two runs in the first inning on an RBI groundout by Calvin Estrada and a key Highlander error with two outs. The four runs in the fourth put the game away, as more sloppy defense from UCR contributed to the rally. Jimenez really made the innings sting by lining an RBI single to left field to bring home Jake Vander Wal and Cole Joy to make it 6-0 Dirtbags.

Bring em both home! Chris Jimenez delivers a 2-out, 2-run single to bring home Vander Wal & Joy! The Dirtbags score 4 times in the 4th inning to take a 6-0 lead over UC Riverside! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/9px1qwzWu1
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) May 4, 2019

The Dirtbags will look to clinch the series on Saturday with an early 1 p.m. start time. RHP Nick Avila (0-3, 4.39 ERA) will get the ball for the Dirtbags against RHP Abbott Haffar (3-2, 3.72 ERA) for the Highlanders.