Dirtbags Take Early Lead and Hold off CSUN for Series Opening Win

Friday, March 25

Northridge, Calif.

3 P.M.

Long Beach State University

12-8, 3-1

CSUN

11-10, 0-4

Long Beach State

CSUN

Photo by: Mikaella Salazar

Dirtbags Take Early Lead and Hold off CSUN for Series Opening Win

3/25/2022 7:40:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

Long Beach State scored five runs in the first and never looked back.

By: Collin Robinson, Associate Athletics Communications Director

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Long Beach State (12-8, 3-1 Big West) had the bats going early once again with a five-run first inning on their way to a 11-8 win over CSUN (11-10, 0-4 Big West) in the series opener on Friday afternoon. The Dirtbags have won six of their last seven games.

Oh, and we're sporting some new threads today ??

What do y'all think? #skoBags pic.twitter.com/SPY4QCbkz3
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) March 25, 2022

With the bases loaded, Eddie Saldivar delivered the first blow with a two-RBI single through left side. Tyler Porter followed with a double into the right-center gap to drive in another before a Charlie Loust RBI groundout. Connor Burns drove in the fifth and final run of the inning with an RBI knock into right-center.

While a five-run lead with preseason All-American Devereaux Harrison sounds great on paper, the Matadors battled back. After a hit by pitch, error, and walk loaded the bases, CSUN's Bart West connected for a grand slam to right field making it a 5-4 lead.

After the home run, Harrison responded by retiring the next 13 Matador hitters as he finished with 5.1 innings, allowing six runs (five earned), on four this and a pair of walks while striking out four.

Chase Luttrell got the offense back on track with his fourth home run of the season the opposite way. The solo home run made it 6-4 through four innings.

.@chaseluttrell22 got all of this one ??

?? https://t.co/J7w6SU9EkM pic.twitter.com/uYwgWY9JQq
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) March 25, 2022

The Dirtbags scored four more in the fifth, but CSUN responded for two in the sixth. The 10-6 score held until the ninth when Long Beach State plated a run in the top of the ninth to make it a five-run ballgame.

Ethan Clough was on the mound looking for his second three-inning save of the season, but ran into some trouble as the Matadors got a two-out, two-run home run to make it 11-8. Matt Fields came on and shut it down, needing just two pitches to notch his second save of the season.

Four Dirtbags notched three-hit games led by Saldivar's 3-for-5 along with three RBI and a run scored. Jonathon Long also recorded a 3-for-5 game with two RBI and two runs scored.

Rocco Peppi had an interesting day, going 1-for-2 with two runs scored. The redshirt freshman was hit by a pitch three times, just the fifth time that has happened in program history. He was on base five times in six plate appearances.