Friday, February 18
Starkville, Miss.
12 P.M.
Long Beach State University
at
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Mississippi State
No. 24 Dirtbags Open Season at Defending National Champion Mississippi State
2/17/2022 1:58:00 PM | Baseball
Long Beach State opens 2022 on the road with No. 3 Mississippi State.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The 2022 season is here and the No. 24 ranked Dirtbags will open up their schedule with the reigning national champions as they head to Starkville, Miss. for a three-game series with No. 3 Mississippi State.
Friday, February 18
No. 24 Long Beach State at No. 3 Mississippi State
Time: 2:00 p.m. CT (12:00 p.m. PT)
Location: Dudy Noble Field (Starkville, Miss.)
Pitching Matchup: Luis Ramirez (LBSU) vs. Landon Sims (MSU)
Live Stats | Listen | Watch on SEC Network +
Saturday, February 19
No. 24 Long Beach State at No. 3 Mississippi State
Time: 2:00 p.m. CT (12:00 p.m. PT)
Location: Dudy Noble Field (Starkville, Miss.)
Pitching Matchup: Marques Johnson (LBSU) vs. KC Hunt (MSU)
Live Stats | Listen | Watch on SEC Network+
Sunday, February 20
No. 24 Long Beach State at No. 3 Mississippi State
Time: 2:00 p.m. CT (12:00 p.m. PT)
Location: Dudy Noble Field (Starkville, Miss.)
Pitching Matchup: Juaron Watts-Brown (LBSU) vs. Cade Smith (MSU)
Live Stats | Listen | Watch on SEC Network+
2021 SEASON IN REVIEW
• The Dirtbags played just 43 games last season due to COVID-restrictions. It consisted of four-game series against Big West teams and a single three-game non-conference series at the University of Pacific.
• Overall, the team went 28-15 (26-14 Big West) finishing third place in the league standings. While they made a strong final push to end the year, they fell short of a spot in the NCAA postseason.
• After losing three of four at Hawai'i to open the year, the Dirtbags did not lose a series the rest of the way and won 15 of their last 17 games.
• The pitching staff shined throughout 2021 led by Big West Co-Pitcher of the Year, Johnathan Lavallee, and Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year, Devereaux Harrison. As a team, the Dirtbags ranked 15th in the nation in shutouts (6), 20th in hits allowed/nine (7.76), 21st in ERA (3.75), and 28th in WHIP (1.29).
• In total, eight players accumulated 10 Big West honors with four All-Big West First Team selections, three Second Team selections, and an Honorable Mention.
IN THE POLLS
• The major publications have all released their preseason polls and Long Beach State finds themselves at #24 by both D1Baseball and Perfect Game. Overall, they are one of three Big West teams to receive at least one Top 25 ranking with UCI and UCSB also appearing in the rankings.
• This marks the first time the 'Bags have been in the preseason polls since the 2017 season when they ranked in the top 20 for both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. The last time they were ranked in general was when the 2020 season was cut short and they ranked as high as #12 in the nation by Baseball America.
PRESEASON FAVORITES
• The Big West Conference announced the results of the preseason coaches' poll on Monday and the 'Bags were tabbed as the favorites in the league. They received 7 first-place votes and 97 total points.
• It marks the first time Long Beach State has been voted as the favorites since the 2008 preseason poll when they topped rival Cal State Fullerton by three points.
• UC Irvine (3 first place votes, 92 points) and UC Santa Barbara (1 first place votes, 81 points) also received first place votes and round out the top three in the poll.
AGAINST THE OPPONENT
• The weekend series against Mississippi State marks the fifth, sixth, and seventh games between the Dirtbags and Bulldogs. This will be the first time the teams will face each other in Starkville.
• Long Beach State leads the all-time series 3-1 with the most recent meeting being a three-game set back in 2020. The only other meeting was at the 1993 NCAA Regional in Tallahassee, Fla. In the 2020, series the Dirtbags won games one and three on their way to a series victory.
• Long Beach State is 34-49 all-time against the SEC, but is 2-1 against the conference since Eric Valenzuela took over the helm of the program.
SEASON OPENERS
• Since 1954, when Long Beach State baseball first began, the team has never been shutout in a season opening game. Of the 67 season openers, they have scored multiple runs in 63 and scored at least five runs in 32 of them.
• Long Beach State is 17-16 in their season openers since the start of the Dirtbag era in 1989. When on the road for their openers, they are 4-13 in that same time frame. Head coach Eric Valenzuela is 1-1 since taking over at the helm prior to the start of the 2020 season.
• The Dirtbags have faced 16 ranked opponents in their season openers since 1989 with the most recent being 2019 against #3 Florida (lost 8-2). Their last win over a ranked team in an opener was 2008 when they defeated #6 Rice, 1-0, in 10 innings.
AN ALL-BIG WEST RETURN
• Along with the return of Harrison, the Dirtbags return All-Conference selections Chase Luttrell, Matt Fields, and Charlie Loust from the 2021 season.
• Luttrell was a First Team selection after slashing .316/.347/.520 with eight home runs and 30 RBI. Among the returners, he led the team in runs, hits, triples, home runs, RBI, and total bases.
• Fields was a Second Team selection after throwing the second most innings out of the LBSU bullpen last year with 23.1 innings in 13 appearances. He totaled 24 strikeouts and notched three saves, all of which were two or more innings.
• Loust was named an Honorable Mention with a .289/.402/.489 slash line in 29 games. He collected nine extra-base hits and 23 RBI on the year, including eight in the doubleheader at then No. 24 UC Irvine.
THE NEWCOMERS
• With several key losses, recruiting coordinator Daniel Costanza put together a solid class to fill the missing spots for the 2022 season. Baseball America called the incoming group of recruits, one of the most notable under the radar classes in the nation.
• Eddie Saldivar leads the group, ranked as the #180 overall prospect by Baseball America and the #30 ranked college freshman by Perfect Game. A sweet swinging lefty at the plate, he is expected to get significant time at second base and toward the top of the lineup.
• Tyler White, Kaden Moeller, and Peyton Schulze are some other key pieces joining the Dirtbags. White stands out for his hittability and above-average speed, especially on defense in center field. Moeller has two-way capability as a left-handed pitcher and first baseman while Schulze is expected to bring some pop to the lineup and get some time at the corner infield spots.
DIRTBAGS TICKETS
• Season tickets and single-game tickets are available for purchase at www.longbeachstate.com/DirtbagsTickets
• For more information, fans can contact the ticket office at LBSUtickets@csulb.edu or call/text at (562)985-4949
Full Game Notes (PDF)
Friday, February 18
No. 24 Long Beach State at No. 3 Mississippi State
Time: 2:00 p.m. CT (12:00 p.m. PT)
Location: Dudy Noble Field (Starkville, Miss.)
Pitching Matchup: Luis Ramirez (LBSU) vs. Landon Sims (MSU)
Live Stats | Listen | Watch on SEC Network +
Saturday, February 19
No. 24 Long Beach State at No. 3 Mississippi State
Time: 2:00 p.m. CT (12:00 p.m. PT)
Location: Dudy Noble Field (Starkville, Miss.)
Pitching Matchup: Marques Johnson (LBSU) vs. KC Hunt (MSU)
Live Stats | Listen | Watch on SEC Network+
Sunday, February 20
No. 24 Long Beach State at No. 3 Mississippi State
Time: 2:00 p.m. CT (12:00 p.m. PT)
Location: Dudy Noble Field (Starkville, Miss.)
Pitching Matchup: Juaron Watts-Brown (LBSU) vs. Cade Smith (MSU)
Live Stats | Listen | Watch on SEC Network+
2021 SEASON IN REVIEW
• The Dirtbags played just 43 games last season due to COVID-restrictions. It consisted of four-game series against Big West teams and a single three-game non-conference series at the University of Pacific.
• Overall, the team went 28-15 (26-14 Big West) finishing third place in the league standings. While they made a strong final push to end the year, they fell short of a spot in the NCAA postseason.
• After losing three of four at Hawai'i to open the year, the Dirtbags did not lose a series the rest of the way and won 15 of their last 17 games.
• The pitching staff shined throughout 2021 led by Big West Co-Pitcher of the Year, Johnathan Lavallee, and Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year, Devereaux Harrison. As a team, the Dirtbags ranked 15th in the nation in shutouts (6), 20th in hits allowed/nine (7.76), 21st in ERA (3.75), and 28th in WHIP (1.29).
• In total, eight players accumulated 10 Big West honors with four All-Big West First Team selections, three Second Team selections, and an Honorable Mention.
IN THE POLLS
• The major publications have all released their preseason polls and Long Beach State finds themselves at #24 by both D1Baseball and Perfect Game. Overall, they are one of three Big West teams to receive at least one Top 25 ranking with UCI and UCSB also appearing in the rankings.
• This marks the first time the 'Bags have been in the preseason polls since the 2017 season when they ranked in the top 20 for both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. The last time they were ranked in general was when the 2020 season was cut short and they ranked as high as #12 in the nation by Baseball America.
PRESEASON FAVORITES
• The Big West Conference announced the results of the preseason coaches' poll on Monday and the 'Bags were tabbed as the favorites in the league. They received 7 first-place votes and 97 total points.
• It marks the first time Long Beach State has been voted as the favorites since the 2008 preseason poll when they topped rival Cal State Fullerton by three points.
• UC Irvine (3 first place votes, 92 points) and UC Santa Barbara (1 first place votes, 81 points) also received first place votes and round out the top three in the poll.
AGAINST THE OPPONENT
• The weekend series against Mississippi State marks the fifth, sixth, and seventh games between the Dirtbags and Bulldogs. This will be the first time the teams will face each other in Starkville.
• Long Beach State leads the all-time series 3-1 with the most recent meeting being a three-game set back in 2020. The only other meeting was at the 1993 NCAA Regional in Tallahassee, Fla. In the 2020, series the Dirtbags won games one and three on their way to a series victory.
• Long Beach State is 34-49 all-time against the SEC, but is 2-1 against the conference since Eric Valenzuela took over the helm of the program.
SEASON OPENERS
• Since 1954, when Long Beach State baseball first began, the team has never been shutout in a season opening game. Of the 67 season openers, they have scored multiple runs in 63 and scored at least five runs in 32 of them.
• Long Beach State is 17-16 in their season openers since the start of the Dirtbag era in 1989. When on the road for their openers, they are 4-13 in that same time frame. Head coach Eric Valenzuela is 1-1 since taking over at the helm prior to the start of the 2020 season.
• The Dirtbags have faced 16 ranked opponents in their season openers since 1989 with the most recent being 2019 against #3 Florida (lost 8-2). Their last win over a ranked team in an opener was 2008 when they defeated #6 Rice, 1-0, in 10 innings.
AN ALL-BIG WEST RETURN
• Along with the return of Harrison, the Dirtbags return All-Conference selections Chase Luttrell, Matt Fields, and Charlie Loust from the 2021 season.
• Luttrell was a First Team selection after slashing .316/.347/.520 with eight home runs and 30 RBI. Among the returners, he led the team in runs, hits, triples, home runs, RBI, and total bases.
• Fields was a Second Team selection after throwing the second most innings out of the LBSU bullpen last year with 23.1 innings in 13 appearances. He totaled 24 strikeouts and notched three saves, all of which were two or more innings.
• Loust was named an Honorable Mention with a .289/.402/.489 slash line in 29 games. He collected nine extra-base hits and 23 RBI on the year, including eight in the doubleheader at then No. 24 UC Irvine.
THE NEWCOMERS
• With several key losses, recruiting coordinator Daniel Costanza put together a solid class to fill the missing spots for the 2022 season. Baseball America called the incoming group of recruits, one of the most notable under the radar classes in the nation.
• Eddie Saldivar leads the group, ranked as the #180 overall prospect by Baseball America and the #30 ranked college freshman by Perfect Game. A sweet swinging lefty at the plate, he is expected to get significant time at second base and toward the top of the lineup.
• Tyler White, Kaden Moeller, and Peyton Schulze are some other key pieces joining the Dirtbags. White stands out for his hittability and above-average speed, especially on defense in center field. Moeller has two-way capability as a left-handed pitcher and first baseman while Schulze is expected to bring some pop to the lineup and get some time at the corner infield spots.
DIRTBAGS TICKETS
• Season tickets and single-game tickets are available for purchase at www.longbeachstate.com/DirtbagsTickets
• For more information, fans can contact the ticket office at LBSUtickets@csulb.edu or call/text at (562)985-4949
Full Game Notes (PDF)
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