Four Run Ninth Propels Dirtbags to Series Finale Win, Sweep UC Riverside

Sunday, May 9

Riverside, Calif.

1 P.M.

Long Beach State University

18-13, 16-12

UC Riverside

14-25, 12-20

Long Beach State

UC Riverside

Photo by: John Fajardo

Four Run Ninth Propels Dirtbags to Series Finale Win, Sweep UC Riverside

5/9/2021 4:56:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

The Dirtbags put together a four-run top of the ninth to give them an 8-6 win and a sweep of the Highlanders.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Long Beach State (18-13, 16-12 BWC) pushed four runs across in the top of the ninth to beat UC Riverside (14-25, 12-20 BWC) 8-6 on Sunday afternoon. The win gives the Dirtbags a series sweep and extends their win streak against the Highlanders to 14 consecutive games.

For the first time in the series, the Highlanders took a lead plating a run on an RBI double in the first inning. However, that would not last long as Chase Luttrell came through with a sacrifice fly in the third to tie the game at a run apiece.

Long Beach State starter, Jack Noble, dealt with a lot of traffic on the bases lasting just 3.2 innings. The right-hander allowed a run on three hits and four walks, but struck out seven before being taken out of the game.

Both teams exchanged three-run fifth innings with the Dirtbags getting a pair of RBI doubles from Calvin Estrada and Brennan Rozell in the top half before the Highlanders answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half.

Rozell was scorching hot this weekend, going 8-for-14 (.571/.647/.786) with three doubles and six RBI against the Highlanders.

UC Riverside took the lead in the seventh as a double split the gap in left-center plating a pair and gave the Highlanders a two-run lead heading into the final frame.

After a back-to-back singles got the inning started, Connor Kokx came through with an RBI double down the left field line to make it a one-run game. The next batter reached on a hit by pitch before the tying run came in after Luttrell drew a bases loaded walk.

The Dirtbags would take the lead two batters later on another bases loaded walk. The fourth run of the inning came in off the bat of Tanner Carlson who legged out an infield single giving Long Beach State the 8-6 lead.

The Highlander offense rallied for a run in the bottom half of the ninth, but a flyout to center ended the game giving the Dirtbags the 8-7 victory and the four-game sweep.

Estrada led the way offensively on Sunday with a 2-for-3 performance driving in two runs and scoring two more. Alex Pimentel also notched a multi-hit game going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.

Sebastian Murillo had another great day at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a double and three runs scored. The freshman has been absolutely on fire over the last seven games reaching base in all seven, slashing .423/.467/.692 with five doubles, a triple, six RBI, and eight runs scored.

The Dirtbags will take a five-game winning streak into next weekend as they host CSU Bakersfield for their four-game series at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.