Long Beach State University Athletics
Back to Blair: No. 17 Long Beach State Takes On Xavier
3/5/2020 2:55:00 PM | Baseball
After their first road trip to San Diego on Tuesday, No. 17 Long Beach State is back at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field to take on Xavier this weekend.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — After their first road trip to San Diego on Tuesday, No. 17 Long Beach State is back at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field to take on Xavier this weekend.
Friday, March 6
Long Beach State vs.. Xavier
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Watch: Beach Vision | Listen: 22 West Radio | Live Stats
Saturday, March 7
Long Beach State vs. Xavier
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Watch: Beach Vision | Listen: 22 West Radio | Live Stats
Sunday, March 8
Long Beach State vs. Xavier
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Watch: Beach Vision | Listen: 22 West Radio | Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
• The Dirtbags played their first game away from Bohl Diamond at Blair Field on Tuesday, traveling to San Diego State where the team lost 7-2 at Tony Gwynn Stadium. In the contest, LBSU stranded seven runners on base in the first three innings as the offense wasn't able to get things going. The offense had five singles the rest of the night.
• LBSU moved up to No. 17 in multiple polls this week after picking up a series win against No. 6 Mississippi State, the Dirtbags' first win over a SEC since 2003.
• Redshirt freshman Connor Kokx continued his strong play last week as he went 7-for-12 from the plate. After his play Kokx was named the Big West Player of the Week, while leading the team in batting average with a .469 clip.
• LBSU swept both Big West awards last week as junior Adam Seminaris pitched eight innings and struck out 10 Bulldogs as the Dirtbags picked up a 4-0 series-opening win against Mississippi State. Seminaris boasts a 0.00 ERA which tops the Big West and is tied for the best in the nation.
ROTATION MARKS
• The Dirtbags pitching staff has been terrific so far this season, posting a team ERA of just 2.43 this season. That number is second in the Big West and ranks No. 24 in the nation. Long Beach State also ranks eighth in the nation in WHIP (0.98) and fourth in shutouts (3) so far this season.
• Freshman Luis Ramirez continued his strong play to close out the series win against Mississippi State last weekend. After giving up a 2-spot in the first inning, Ramirez settled down to pitch six scoreless innings while striking out four.
• Redshirt junior Matt Fields continued his strong play from the bullpen as he picked up the team's first save Sunday against the Bulldogs. In the outing, Fields struck out two across two innings and kept his ERA at 0.00 in four appearances.
SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS
• Xavier comes to Blair Field after picking up a 24-15 win against Northern Kentucky on Wednesday. In the contest, the Musketeers hit six homeruns.
• The offense is led by led by Natale Monastra who leads the team with a .318 batting average. Along withMonastra, Luke Franzoni leads the team with 10 RBI and three homeruns.
• The Musketeers' pitching staff is led by junior left-handed pitcher Nick Zwack who comes to Blair Field with a 1.65 ERA and a 2-1 record. Zwack was named the Big East Pitcher of the Week after pitching seven innings and striking out 7 in a win over Charleston last weekend.
• This will be the first time Long Beach State takes on Xavier and the second time the Dirtbags have faced a Big East opponent. The last time Long Beach State faced a Big East opponent was in 2003 at the NCAA Sub-Regional in Palo Alto. The Dirtbags beat St. John's, 4-3.
LB IN MLB
• Long Beach State had more former players in the big leagues than any other college or university from 2010-17, with 12 MLB representatives in 2019, again placing the Dirtbags among the nation's leaders.
• Jeff McNeil was named a 2019 NL All-Star, representing the New York Mets in the Midsummer Classic. His All-Star Game debut was the 20th All-Star appearance by a former Dirtbag, and the fourth in the last five seasons by four different players. There has been at least one former Dirtbag in 11 of the last 12 All-Star Games, with a combined 14 ASG selections since 2008.
