Long Beach State University
2-1
Wichita State
1-2
Dirtbags Fall in Series Finale Against Wichita State
2/19/2023 5:12:00 PM | Baseball
An eight-run third inning against Long Beach was the difference.
Wichita made some noise right out of the gate with their three-hitter, Garrett Pennington, launching a two-run homer in the top of the first. They tacked on another in the second as they jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead.
However, the Dirtbags answered with three runs in the bottom half courtesy of RBIs from Alex Champagne, Nick Marinconz, and Rocco Peppi.
Working on a pitch limit, Myles Patton got the start on the mound surrendering three runs (two unearned) in 1.2 innings of work while striking out three. He handed the ball off to Jake Rons who worked out of a jam in the second.
Unfortunately, a nightmare third inning ensued as the Shockers sent 14 batters to the plate with the first seven reaching to start the inning. When the frame finally came to an end, they scored eight runs on seven hits to take an 11-3 lead.
LBSU tried chipping away with single runs in the fifth, sixth, and ninth, but Wichita pitching kept the Dirtbags in check the rest of the afternoon.
Peppi had another great showing at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Eddie Saldivar also had a three-hit effort, going 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Marinconz had his second straight multi-hit game with a 2-for-3 afternoon.
Joey Walls registered his first hit in a Dirtbag uniform with a 105mph home run to left center in the fifth inning.
The trio of Nathen Morris, Dalton Ponce, and Kellan Montgomery were phenomenal out of the bullpen combining to retire 20 of the 21 hitters they faced. Morris was perfect with 2.2 innings and three strikeouts while Ponce went the next three innings with three strikeouts and just one walk. Montgomery had a great debut outing, striking out the side on just 11 pitches in his first collegiate inning.
Long Beach State will have a quick turnaround with their first midweek of the season at Loyola Marymount on Tuesday. First pitch will be at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Adler, Grant (1-0)
L: Rons, Jake (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Pennington, Garrett 1
HR: Pennington, Garrett 1 ; Millan, Mauricio 1
RBI: Rodden, Brock 2 ; Pennington, Garrett 3 ; Tolle, Payton 2 ; Millan, Mauricio 2 ; Thornhill, Sawyre 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rodden, Brock 2 ; Pennington, Garrett 2 ; Tolle, Payton 1 ; Millan, Mauricio 1 ; Herring, David 1 ; Rogers, Jordan 2 ; Ingram, Chuck 1 ; Thornhill, Sawyre 1
SB: Rodden, Brock 1
HBP: Millan, Mauricio 1
Batting:
2B: Saldivar, Eddie 1 ; Santander, Cole 1
HR: Walls Jr., Joey 1
RBI: Champagne, Alex 1 ; Marinconz, Nick 1 ; Peppi, Rocco 2 ; Walls Jr., Joey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Champagne, Alex 1 ; Borgogno, Ty 1 ; Walls Jr., Joey 1 ; Saldivar, Eddie 2 ; Burns, Connor 1
SB: Peppi, Rocco 1
