Long Beach State University
16-8, 4-3
Cal Poly
7-15, 3-4
Hammond’s Career Day Powers Dirtbags to Series Opening Win over Cal Poly
3/31/2023 9:55:00 PM | Baseball
Long Beach State extended their win streak to six straight games.
Hammond got his night started with an RBI double in the bottom of the first to give the Dirtbags an early lead. Two innings later, he started a six-run third with a three-run homer into the street beyond the left field wall.
Hammond HAMMERS ??
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 1, 2023
?? https://t.co/X9toxdjQIU@_JackHammond_ | #skoBags pic.twitter.com/kbQa2bXfgn
Ty Borgogno would drive in the fourth run of the inning followed by an Eddie Saldivar triple as the 'Bags blew it open for a 7-0 lead through three full innings.
Nick Marinconz also had a career night in the first game against his former team, coming up with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth. The junior shortstop would finish the night 4-for-4 with a run scored and that run batted in.
Checking back in to the star of the night, Hammond came up for his fourth at-bat in the bottom of the sixth launching his second home run of the night and fourth of the season. The two-run shot put Long Beach State as they opened up to a 10-0 lead.
.@_JackHammond_ with his second homer of the night ??
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 1, 2023
oh, and he has two doubles as well ??
?? https://t.co/X9toxdjQIU pic.twitter.com/4Qgz6Vbw6I
That was more than enough offense for the Dirtbag ace, Graham Osman, who moved to a perfect 4-0 on the season. The southpaw went six scoreless innings, scattering six hits and a walk, while striking out nine Mustang hitters. His ERA is now down to a league-leading 1.34 for the season.
Cal Poly would plate two runs in the eighth off Dalton Ponce, who still closed out the night and recorded the first save of his career. He struck out four in three innings of work.
After adding a single in the bottom of the eighth, Hammond finished his night 5-for-5 at the plate with two doubles, two home runs, three runs scored, and six RBI. He now has new career-highs in hits, doubles, and total bases while tying his single-game career-high in home runs and RBI. It also marks the first five-hit game by a Dirtbag since Chase Luttrell had five hits against UC Riverside back in 2021.
Long Beach State continues their series with Cal Poly tomorrow night at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. First pitch will be at 6 p.m. live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Osman, Graham (4-0)
L: Warrecker, Bryce (1-2)
S: Ponce, Dalton (1)
Batting:
2B: Villegas, Collin 1
RBI: Villegas, Collin 1 ; Casillas, Aaron 1
SH: Fenn, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stafford, Ryan 1 ; Yorke, Joe 1
HBP: King, Wyatt 1
Batting:
2B: Long, Jonathon 1 ; Peppi, Rocco 1 ; Hammond, Jack 2
3B: Saldivar, Eddie 1
HR: Hammond, Jack 2
RBI: Saldivar, Eddie 1 ; Hammond, Jack 6 ; Marinconz, Nick 1 ; Borgogno, Ty 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Saldivar, Eddie 1 ; Peppi, Rocco 2 ; Burns, Connor 2 ; Hammond, Jack 3 ; Marinconz, Nick 1 ; Borgogno, Ty 1
HBP: Peppi, Rocco 1
