Long Beach State University
20-25, 9-11
UC Riverside
7-35, 3-20
Dirtbags Secure Series Win with 11-4 Victory over UC Riverside
5/7/2022 7:05:00 PM | Baseball
The offense showed up and shutout on Saturday with their sixth double-digit scoring game.
Just like Friday, Long Beach State got the scoring started early with a run in the bottom half of the second on an RBI single from Eddie Saldivar. They followed it with a three-run third on a two-RBI single from Jonathon Long and RBI double from Peyton Schulze.
Not to be overlooked, Marques Johnson was terrific on the mound. He finished with five innings of one-run ball, allowing just one hit and three walks while striking out five Highlanders. The right-hander took a no-hit bid into the fifth retiring 13 of the first 15 batters he faced.
The fifth inning was the big one as the Dirtbags' offense exploded for six runs. With the bases loaded, Chase Luttrell delivered the first blow with a two-run single. After a hit by pitch loaded the bases again, Connor Burns dropped a single into right-center for two more runs. The final hit of the frame came off the bat of Alex Pimentel, who came through with a two-RBI single of his own.
Already leading 10-1, Pimentel stepped to the plate again in the seventh and scorched a ball over the left-center field wall. The solo shot was hit 103mph off the bat and marks the second of the outfielder's season.
The Highlanders would rally for three runs in the top of the ninth, but the game was far out of reach by that point as Jake Rons shut the door to secure the 11-4 victory for Long Beach State.
Schulze led the way, going 3-for-5 at the plate with three doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. He is the first Dirtbag to record three doubles in a game since April 26, 2016 when Luke Rasmussen accomplished the feat. Pimentel had a tremendous day as well going 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and three RBI.
The three-game win streak marks the longest for the Dirtbags since winning five straight in the beginning of March.
Long Beach State will look for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon with first pitch at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Marques (1-1)
L: Priddy, J. (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Webb, N. 1
RBI: Shanks, J. 1 ; Rivas, A. 2 ; Orick, D. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shanks, J. 1 ; Webb, N. 1 ; Mcfarland, A 1 ; Carnazzo, D. 1
HBP: Rivas, A. 1
Batting:
2B: Schulze, Peyton 3 ; Saldivar, Eddie 1
HR: Pimentel, Alex 1
RBI: Long, Jonathon 2 ; Schulze, Peyton 1 ; Luttrell, Chase 1 ; Saldivar, Eddie 1 ; Burns, Connor 2 ; Pimentel, Alex 3
SH: Murillo, Sebastian 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Peppi, Rocco 2 ; Murillo, Sebastian 1 ; Long, Jonathon 2 ; Schulze, Peyton 1 ; Luttrell, Chase 1 ; White, Tyler 1 ; Burns, Connor 1 ; Pimentel, Alex 2
SB: Saldivar, Eddie 1
HBP: Long, Jonathon 1 ; Luttrell, Chase 1 ; White, Tyler 1
