Long Beach State University
10-4
Xavier
4-9
No. 17 Long Beach State Earns Workmanlike Win Over Xavier
3/7/2020 6:39:00 PM | Baseball
The Dirtbags weren’t at their best on Saturday afternoon, but it was still another game in the win column as LBSU held off Xavier for a 3-1 victory on Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. Long Beach State had just three hits in the game, but got them at the right times in order to clinch the series win.
Sophomore Alfredo Ruiz picked up his third win of the season, even without his most dominant stuff. The southpaw was forced to throw a lot of extra pitches early against a pesky Musketeers lineup, making it through just five innings on Saturday. He allowed one run on four hits and a walk while tallying seven strikeouts.
Jonathan Lavallee worked a scoreless sixth inning before handing the ball over to senior Tyler Gums. The Gum Show lasted the final three innings, allowing two hits and striking out a season-high six batters to record his first save of the season.
The Dirtbags took the lead in the second inning on a two-out single from Riki DeSa, scoring Santino Rivera from second after he walked and moved to scoring position on a balk.
Xavier answered immediately in the third inning to tie the game, as a throw across the diamond that could have been an inning-ending double play instead got away from Leonard Jones at first base. Ruiz was able to limit the damage and strand two in scoring position with a swinging strikeout to end it.The Dirtbags take the lead! Riki DeSa smacks this RBI single back up the middle to score Santino Rivera! 1-0 Bags in the 2nd. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/DBykFZbRBI
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) March 7, 2020
Back-to-back walks to start the fifth inning got the other run-scoring rally started for the Dirtbags. With Pimentel and DeSa on base ahead of him, Calvin Estrada lined single into right center, scoring a run and creating a controversial play at third. DeSa rounded second and had to dodge Xavier's backpedaling shortstop on his way to third. He was thrown out at third base, but was awarded the base on interference after an argument from head coach Eric Valenzuela prompted a conference of the umpires. Leonard Jones then did his job with an RBI groundout to bring in the third and final Long Beach run.
LBSU will look for its second series sweep of the year on Sunday afternoon as freshman RHP Luis Ramirez (2-0, 3.44 ERA) gets the start against freshman RHP Xander Rojahn (0-0, 7.20 ERA) for Xavier. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.The Bags are back in front!! Estrada singles home Pimentel, making it 2-1 Long Beach State in the 5th! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/pSAes18yGf
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) March 8, 2020
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ruiz, Alfredo (3-1)
L: ZWACK, Nick (2-2)
S: Gums, Tyler (1)
Batting:
RBI: SCHULTZ, Garrett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HOUSINGER, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: Jones, Leonard 1
RBI: Estrada, Calvin 1 ; Jones, Leonard 1 ; DeSa, Riki 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rivera, Santino 1 ; Pimentel, Alex 1 ; DeSa, Riki 1
