Dirtbags Clinch Series With 6-4 Win Over UC Riverside

Saturday, May 4

Long Beach, Calif.

1 p.m.

Long Beach State University

10-34, 4-10

UC Riverside

16-28, 5-9

UC Riverside

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

5/4/2019 6:02:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Senior Laine Huffman had a career-high four hits to help lead Long Beach State to a 6-4 victory over UC Riverside on Saturday afternoon. The victory clinches the second series win of the season for the Dirtbags and a chance to sweep the Highlanders on Sunday at 1 p.m.

By: Tyler Hendrickson, Associate Athletic Communications Director

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Dirtbags (10-34, 4-10 Big West) picked up a 6-4 victory over visiting UC Riverside (16-28, 5-9 Big West) on Saturday afternoon on Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. The win gives LBSU its second series victory of the season and its first chance at a sweep on Sunday afternoon.

Senior Laine Huffman collected four hits to match his career high, scoring once and driving in a run in the victory. Junior Jacob Hughey was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, Santino Rivera chipped in a pair of hits and Jake Vander Wal drove in two runs for the Dirtbags.

The Dirtbags bullpen worked the final four innings in relief of starter Nick Avila, and combined to allow just one unearned run on three hits with five strikeouts. Junior Dylan Spacke earned his fourth save of the season by recording the final four outs.

The Dirtbags took the lead in the second inning thanks to a bases-loaded wile pitch, and would face a 3-1 deficit in the fifth inning before immediately rallying in the bottom half of the frame. Vander Wal brought home the first run on a sacrifice fly before Rivera tied the game at 3 with an RBI single up the middle.

We're tied! Santino Rivera with his second hit of the day to bring home Luttrell! That's 2 runs in the inning for the Dirtbags to tie the game, 3-3, in the 5th. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/F6ljHDXtYt
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) May 4, 2019

A pair of walks sparked a one-out rally in the sixth, and the Dirtbags again put a pair of runs on the board. Huffman delivered an RBI single to right center to put Long Beach on top, then Luttrell added a run on a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3 Dirtbags.

Huffman!! After 2 walks, Laine Huffman singles home Chris Jimenez to give the Dirtbags a 4-3 lead over UC Riverside with 0 outs in the 6th! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/UhQr9aJNQ2
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) May 4, 2019

After UC Riverside pulled within one, scoring an unearned run in the eighth, the Dirtbags answered again. Vander Wal's RBI double down the left field line brought in an insurance run, making it 6-4 Long Beach State.

It's Jake, from... State Farm? Vander Wal drives in an insurance run with this RBI double down the line! 6-4 Dirtbags in the 8th. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/3uNWTDWRKQ
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) May 4, 2019

LBSU will go for the series sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m. as Zak Baayoun (2-7, 5.62 ERA) will get the start against an unnamed starter for Riverside.