Tuesday, March 8
Long Beach, Calif.
6 P.M.
Long Beach State University
vs
Pepperdine
Photo by: John Fajardo
Dirtbags to Host Pepperdine in Midweek Matchup
3/7/2022 5:32:00 PM | Baseball
Long Beach State will host the 132nd matchup between the Dirtbags and Waves.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State will take its back-to-back victories into a midweek matchup with the Pepperdine Waves. First pitch on Tuesday night will be at 6:00 p.m. at Bohl Diamond at Blair Fiedl.
Tuesday, March 8
Long Beach State vs. Pepperdine
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field (Long Beach, Calif.
Pitching Matchup: Zach Voelker (LBSU) vs. Jack Baird (PEPP)
Live Stats | Listen
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.
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 WAVES
• The Tuesday night matchup with Pepperdine will be the 132nd matchup between the two programs, but first since 2017. The Dirtbags own the all-time series 68-61-2 and have won the last three meetings against the Waves.
• In fact, the Dirtbags have won five of the last six matchups and the last three at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.
Date Location Final Score
Mar. 8, 2017 Malibu, Calif. W, 2-1
Feb. 17, 2015 Long Beach, Calif. W, 3-2
Apr. 30, 2014 Long Beach, Calif. W, 7-0
Feb. 18, 2014 Malibu, Calif. L, 6-3
May 14, 2013 Long Beach, Calif. W, 3-1
May 7, 2013 Malibu, Calif. W, 5-3
• Coach Valenzuela is 7-9 all-time as a head coach against his alma mater. All 16 of those games came at the helm of Saint Mary's.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE
• The Waves enter the week with an 8-3 overall record and coming off a sweep of Big West rival Cal State Fullerton. Their other wins this season include a sweep of Villanova and midweek victory at UCLA.
• As a team, they are hitting .267 with a .764 OPS led by John Peck and Connor Bradshaw, who are each hitting .356 this season. Peck also leads the team with a .455 on-base percentage, .622 slugging percentage, and 13 RBI.
• The pitching staff owns a 4.26 team ERA with a .236 opponent average. The projected starter, Jack Bair, owns a 3-0 record, 5.40 ERA, and 1.32 WHIP in five appearances, but will be making his first start of the season.
• Defensively, they own a .967 fielding percentage, having made 13 errors in 398 chances.
Tickets are available for Tuesday night's game at longbeachstate.com/DirtbagsTickets
Tuesday, March 8
Long Beach State vs. Pepperdine
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field (Long Beach, Calif.
Pitching Matchup: Zach Voelker (LBSU) vs. Jack Baird (PEPP)
Live Stats | Listen
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.
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 WAVES
• The Tuesday night matchup with Pepperdine will be the 132nd matchup between the two programs, but first since 2017. The Dirtbags own the all-time series 68-61-2 and have won the last three meetings against the Waves.
• In fact, the Dirtbags have won five of the last six matchups and the last three at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.
Date Location Final Score
Mar. 8, 2017 Malibu, Calif. W, 2-1
Feb. 17, 2015 Long Beach, Calif. W, 3-2
Apr. 30, 2014 Long Beach, Calif. W, 7-0
Feb. 18, 2014 Malibu, Calif. L, 6-3
May 14, 2013 Long Beach, Calif. W, 3-1
May 7, 2013 Malibu, Calif. W, 5-3
• Coach Valenzuela is 7-9 all-time as a head coach against his alma mater. All 16 of those games came at the helm of Saint Mary's.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE
• The Waves enter the week with an 8-3 overall record and coming off a sweep of Big West rival Cal State Fullerton. Their other wins this season include a sweep of Villanova and midweek victory at UCLA.
• As a team, they are hitting .267 with a .764 OPS led by John Peck and Connor Bradshaw, who are each hitting .356 this season. Peck also leads the team with a .455 on-base percentage, .622 slugging percentage, and 13 RBI.
• The pitching staff owns a 4.26 team ERA with a .236 opponent average. The projected starter, Jack Bair, owns a 3-0 record, 5.40 ERA, and 1.32 WHIP in five appearances, but will be making his first start of the season.
• Defensively, they own a .967 fielding percentage, having made 13 errors in 398 chances.
Tickets are available for Tuesday night's game at longbeachstate.com/DirtbagsTickets
Players Mentioned
Friends Welcoming TJ Bruce to the Beach
Tuesday, July 02
Dirtbags Baseball Head coach TJ Bruce Welcome Celebration
Thursday, June 27
Dirtbags Baseball: Head coach TJ Bruce Welcome Celebration
Tuesday, June 25
Dirtbags Baseball Game Highlights vs UC Riverside 4/19/2024
Saturday, April 20
