Long Beach State University
3-2
Seattle University
0-4
Dirtbags Ride Seven-Run Eighth to Series Opening Win
2/26/2023 6:52:00 PM | Baseball
Long Beach State took the series opener, 11-5, against Seattle.
Seattle got the scoring started in the top of the third with two runs and one more in the fifth before Long Beach put a run on the board. Joey Walls singled through the left side to give the 'Bags a two-out runner and come around to score on an Alex Champagne RBI double.
After the Redhawks responded with a run in the top of the fifth, LBSU rallied for three runs on no hits in the bottom half with the help of three Seattle errors to make it a 4-4 ballgame.
That score would hold until the bottom of the eighth where the Dirtbags would total seven runs on four hits and four walks to take an 11-5 lead.
After three straight walks loaded the bases, Nick Marinconz sent a double down the left field to clear the bases and put the 'Bags in front. After a Rocco Peppi walk put two runners on, Jonathon Long sent a double into the right center to plate two more. Joey Walls stepped to the plate and launched his second home run of the season to deep left field and cap off the seven-run inning.
Dalton Ponce was huge out of the bullpen, inheriting a runner in the top of the fifth, and getting out of it unscathed. The right-hander would end up going 2.2 perfect with four strikeouts keeping the Dirtbags in the game.
Three Dirtbags posted multi-hit games led by Alex Champagne's four-hit day with a pair of doubles and RBI. Joey Walls (2-for-5, two runs, two RBI) and Cole Santander (2-for-3, run) each notched their first multi-hit games in an LBSU uniform.
Marinconz had arguably the biggest swing with the game-winning, bases clearing double in the eighth. He finished the day 1-for-4 with a run and three RBI.
Long Beach State and Seattle will finish off the series tomorrow with a doubleheader if weather allows. First pitch of game one will be at 11 a.m. with game two scheduled for 40 minutes following the conclusion of the opener.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Morris, Nathen (1-0)
L: Alwood, Luke (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Reed, Jackson 1
HR: Heiser, Grant 1 ; Hays, Ryne 1
RBI: Reed, Jackson 2 ; Heiser, Grant 2 ; Hays, Ryne 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Antonson, Trevor 1 ; Carr, Kellen 1 ; Boissoneault, Matt 1 ; Heiser, Grant 1 ; Hays, Ryne 1
SB: Antonson, Trevor 2
HBP: Boissoneault, Matt 1
PO: Shupe, Hudson 1
Batting:
2B: Marinconz, Nick 1 ; Long, Jonathon 1 ; Champagne, Alex 2
3B: Saldivar, Eddie 1
HR: Walls Jr., Joey 1
RBI: Marinconz, Nick 3 ; Long, Jonathon 2 ; Walls Jr., Joey 2 ; Champagne, Alex 1
SH: Saldivar, Eddie 1
SF: Marinconz, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Saldivar, Eddie 1 ; Marinconz, Nick 1 ; Peppi, Rocco 1 ; Long, Jonathon 1 ; Walls Jr., Joey 2 ; Borgogno, Ty 1 ; Santander, Cole 1 ; Morrissey-Jakel, Jashia 1 ; Ashworth, Kyle 1 ; White, Tyler 1
SB: Peppi, Rocco 1
