Friday, March 11
Long Beach, Calif.
6 P.M.
Long Beach State University
vs
Gonzaga
Photo by: John Fajardo
Dirtbags Continue Home Stretch with No. 15 Gonzaga
3/10/2022 3:15:00 PM | Baseball
Long Beach State welcomes the Zags to Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Dirtbags will welcome the No. 15 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs to Bohl Diamond at Blair Field this weekend. The series was a late add to the schedule after Long Beach State's trip to Nebraska was canceled due to the weather forecast.
Friday, March 11
Long Beach State vs. No. 15 Gonzaga
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Pitching Matchup: Luis Ramirez (LBSU) vs. Gabe Hughes (GON)
Live Stats | Audio
Saturday, March 12
Long Beach State vs. No. 15 Gonzaga
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Pitching Matchup: Jack Noble (LBSU) vs. Will Kempner (GON)
Live Stats | Audio
Sunday, March 13
Long Beach State vs. No. 15 Gonzaga
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Pitching Matchup: Juaron Watts-Brown (LBSU) vs. Trystan Vrieling (GON)
Live Stats | Audio
ABOUT LAST WEEK
• The Dirtbags entered the weekend with a 2-5 record and were on a five-game losing streak after their midweek loss to No. 20 UCLA. Against the Bruins, a three-run homer in the first was the difference maker as LBSU fell by a score of 3-0.
• Looking to bounce back against North Dakota State, the Bison came out and took the series opener on Friday. After three runs (two unearned) came in to score off Luis Ramirez, the Dirtbags battled back to take a 4-3 lead. Unfortunately, a two-run single in the sixth made it six straight losses.
• However, the losing streak would be snapped on Saturday as the 'Bags took game two, 5-2. Jack Noble impressed in his first start, throwing six innings and allowing just the two runs while striking out six.
• In the Sunday rubber match, the Dirtbags found themselves down 5-0 after four and a half innings. But Long Beach State would plate three in the fifth and five in the eighth for eight unanswered runs and the comeback victory to claim the series.
MIDWEEK MATCHUP
• Long Beach State faced off with Pepperdine in a Tuesday night contest this week and came out with a 2-1 victory over the Waves.
• Zach Voelker was dominant in his first start as a Dirtbag, tossing four scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Marques Johnson came out of the pen and kept it rolling with three shutout innings of his own with three strikeouts.
• Tanner Carlson stayed red hot at the plate with two knocks, including an RBI single in the seventh that proved to be the difference.
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 ZAGS
• The weekend series with Gonzaga this weekend marks the ninth, tenth, and eleventh games between the two programs but first time they have met in a weekend series.
• This series will also be the first time the Zags and Dirtbags have met since 1998 and just second matchup in the Dirtbag era. The 'Bags are 1-1 in those two games with a 7-3 loss in 1996 and a 15-8 win in 1998.
• Coach Valenzuela is 13-10 all-time against Gonzaga after his time in the West Coast Conference with Saint Mary's.
ABOUT GONZAGA
• The Zags enter this weekend as a top 25 team in the nation after a dominant sweep over then-No. 6 Oklahoma State. They are also fresh off a come from behind victory over Missouri this past Wednesday.
• Gonzaga's pitching staff has carried them to the 10-2 record, posting a team ERA of 3.42 and a .235 opponent average. Gabe Hughes and Will Kempner are the projected Friday and Saturday starters, and own 2.84 and 1.69 ERAs, respectively. Michael Spellacy and Owen Wild are the big arms out of the pen, combining to allow just one run in 19.2 innings.
• Offensively, the Zags own a .266 average as a team led by Tyler Rando's .429 clip. Shea Kramer and Ezra Samperi are tied for the team lead with seven RBI.
Tickets are available for $5 until Friday at noon. Visit longbeachstate.com/DirtbagsTickets
Friday, March 11
Long Beach State vs. No. 15 Gonzaga
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Pitching Matchup: Luis Ramirez (LBSU) vs. Gabe Hughes (GON)
Live Stats | Audio
Saturday, March 12
Long Beach State vs. No. 15 Gonzaga
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Pitching Matchup: Jack Noble (LBSU) vs. Will Kempner (GON)
Live Stats | Audio
Sunday, March 13
Long Beach State vs. No. 15 Gonzaga
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Pitching Matchup: Juaron Watts-Brown (LBSU) vs. Trystan Vrieling (GON)
Live Stats | Audio
ABOUT LAST WEEK
• The Dirtbags entered the weekend with a 2-5 record and were on a five-game losing streak after their midweek loss to No. 20 UCLA. Against the Bruins, a three-run homer in the first was the difference maker as LBSU fell by a score of 3-0.
• Looking to bounce back against North Dakota State, the Bison came out and took the series opener on Friday. After three runs (two unearned) came in to score off Luis Ramirez, the Dirtbags battled back to take a 4-3 lead. Unfortunately, a two-run single in the sixth made it six straight losses.
• However, the losing streak would be snapped on Saturday as the 'Bags took game two, 5-2. Jack Noble impressed in his first start, throwing six innings and allowing just the two runs while striking out six.
• In the Sunday rubber match, the Dirtbags found themselves down 5-0 after four and a half innings. But Long Beach State would plate three in the fifth and five in the eighth for eight unanswered runs and the comeback victory to claim the series.
MIDWEEK MATCHUP
• Long Beach State faced off with Pepperdine in a Tuesday night contest this week and came out with a 2-1 victory over the Waves.
• Zach Voelker was dominant in his first start as a Dirtbag, tossing four scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Marques Johnson came out of the pen and kept it rolling with three shutout innings of his own with three strikeouts.
• Tanner Carlson stayed red hot at the plate with two knocks, including an RBI single in the seventh that proved to be the difference.
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 ZAGS
• The weekend series with Gonzaga this weekend marks the ninth, tenth, and eleventh games between the two programs but first time they have met in a weekend series.
• This series will also be the first time the Zags and Dirtbags have met since 1998 and just second matchup in the Dirtbag era. The 'Bags are 1-1 in those two games with a 7-3 loss in 1996 and a 15-8 win in 1998.
• Coach Valenzuela is 13-10 all-time against Gonzaga after his time in the West Coast Conference with Saint Mary's.
ABOUT GONZAGA
• The Zags enter this weekend as a top 25 team in the nation after a dominant sweep over then-No. 6 Oklahoma State. They are also fresh off a come from behind victory over Missouri this past Wednesday.
• Gonzaga's pitching staff has carried them to the 10-2 record, posting a team ERA of 3.42 and a .235 opponent average. Gabe Hughes and Will Kempner are the projected Friday and Saturday starters, and own 2.84 and 1.69 ERAs, respectively. Michael Spellacy and Owen Wild are the big arms out of the pen, combining to allow just one run in 19.2 innings.
• Offensively, the Zags own a .266 average as a team led by Tyler Rando's .429 clip. Shea Kramer and Ezra Samperi are tied for the team lead with seven RBI.
Tickets are available for $5 until Friday at noon. Visit longbeachstate.com/DirtbagsTickets
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