Long Beach State University
14-8, 3-3
UC Riverside
5-14, 0-3
Dirtbags Complete Sweep of Highlanders
3/26/2023 4:13:00 PM | Baseball
Long Beach State launched three home runs on their way to an 11-2 win in the finale.
After both teams exchanged a run in the first and a zero in the second, the Dirtbags bats broke the game open. With the bases loaded, Jonathon Long singled through the right side to put LBSU in front by a run. Two batters later, Connor Burns connected for a grand slam to right field. It marks the fourth home run of the season for the sophomore catcher and put the 'Bags in front by five runs.
Burnsy Bomb: GRAND edition ??@ConnorB26785823 | #skoBags pic.twitter.com/U6vR1sh9Vn
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) March 26, 2023
With Long at the plate, the Highlander pitcher's first delivery of the inning went high and tight leading to an ejection. Four batters later, karma struck in the form of a Kyle Ashworth missile to right-center. The sophomore's first collegiate home run went as a three-run shot and blew the game open as Long Beach State jumped ahead 9-2.
Kyle turned this ball to ashes ?? pic.twitter.com/A5htBI5TDs
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) March 26, 2023
In the next half inning, Joey Walls Jr. led off with a walk to bring Eddie Saldivar to the plate. Just as he did the day before, the first pitch of the at-bat was blasted off the scoreboard in right-center for a two-run home run, his third of the season.
On the mound, Myles Patton had plenty of run support as he cruised through the UC Riverside lineup for the best start of his young career. In 6.2 innings, he allowed just two runs on six hits while striking out eight batters and walking none. The southpaw earned his second win of the season.
Dalton Ponce took over in the seventh and once again put together a perfect outing, retiring all four batters he faced including a strikeout. Ethan Clough came out for the ninth and allowed just a single hit on his way to recording the final three outs of the ballgame and lock up the 14-2 victory.
The Dirtbags will return home this week as they start a five-game homestand. The week begins with a Tuesday night rematch with California Baptist at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Patton, Myles (2-2)
L: Corbin Barker (0-3)
Batting:
2B: White, Tyler 1
HR: Saldivar, Eddie 1 ; Burns, Connor 1 ; Ashworth, Kyle 1
RBI: Saldivar, Eddie 2 ; Long, Jonathon 2 ; Burns, Connor 4 ; Marinconz, Nick 1 ; Ashworth, Kyle 4 ; White, Tyler 1
SH: Peppi, Rocco 1
SF: Long, Jonathon 1 ; Marinconz, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Saldivar, Eddie 3 ; Peppi, Rocco 1 ; Long, Jonathon 1 ; Santander, Cole 1 ; Hammond, Jack 1 ; Burns, Connor 2 ; Marinconz, Nick 1 ; Ashworth, Kyle 2 ; Walls Jr., Joey 2
SB: Saldivar, Eddie 1
HBP: Saldivar, Eddie 1 ; Santander, Cole 2 ; Burns, Connor 1
Batting:
3B: Jacob Shanks 1
RBI: Jacob Shanks 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jayden Lopez 1 ; Anthony Mcfarland 1
HBP: Jayden Lopez 1 ; Jacob Shanks 1
