Long Beach State University
6-3
East Carolina
6-3
Dirtbags Upset No. 9 East Carolina on Day Two of LeClair Classic
3/4/2023 6:14:00 PM | Baseball
Long Beach State scored three early runs and rode it to an upset win at East Carolina.
The Dirtbags (6-3) scored three runs early led by Rocco Peppi and got masterful work from the bullpen to finish off the upset of No. 9 East Carolina (6-3).
The ballgame started with Nick Marinconz reaching on an error and moving up to second on the errant throw. Two batters later Peppi sent a liner down the left field line for an RBI double to put the Dirtbags out in front in the top of the first.
JUUIIIIICEEEE ??
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) March 4, 2023
RBI double from @RoccoPeppi puts the 'Bags in front early!
??: https://t.co/B9NwtZBBi4 pic.twitter.com/HzKMDKjk17
Two innings later, LBSU manufactured a run after singles from Eddie Saldivar and Peppi put two runners aboard. Jonathon Long stepped into the box next and sent a ball back up the middle for an RBI single and 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Peppi recorded his second double of the afternoon, this time down the right field line. After a pitching change, a wild pitch to Long would move him up to third and a second wild pitch to Joey Walls would allow him to come in to score the third run of the game.
After four shutout innings on the mound from Dirtbag starting pitcher, Graham Osman, the Pirate offense would break through. In the bottom of the fifth, two singles and two walks would plate a run and force a pitching change. The southpaw finished with 4.1 innings, three hits and two runs allowed to go along with three walks and a pair of strikeouts.
Coach Valenzuela would give the ball to Sky Wells, whose wild pitch led to the second ECU run, but ultimately tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless ball on the way to earning the victory.
Kellan Montgomery was phenomenal out of the bullpen to close out the ballgame. Taking over for an injury-removed Josh Haley, the freshman threw three shutout innings allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three. Two of his punch outs came in the bottom of the ninth as he recorded the first save of his career.
In the box score, Peppi was the notable standout. Out of the three spot, he was 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored, and an RBI. Counting the redshirt sophomore, six different Dirtbags registered a hit in the victory.
The Dirtbags will close out their weekend in North Carolina tomorrow morning with Indiana. First pitch will be at 8 a.m. PST (11 a.m. EST).
BALLGAME!!! It's an upset of #9 East Carolina!#skoBags pic.twitter.com/T5dgqH8XyH
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) March 5, 2023
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wells, Sky (1-0)
L: SPIVEY, Carter (0-1)
S: Montgomery, Kellan (1)
Batting:
2B: Peppi, Rocco 2 ; Walls Jr., Joey 1
RBI: Peppi, Rocco 1 ; Long, Jonathon 1
SH: Burns, Connor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Marinconz, Nick 1 ; Saldivar, Eddie 1 ; Peppi, Rocco 1
CS: Saldivar, Eddie 1
HBP: Marinconz, Nick 1
Batting:
RBI: STARLING, Jacob 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MOYLAN, Josh 1 ; BERINI, Joey 1
CS: NOWAK, Luke 1 ; STARLING, Jacob 1 ; JOHNSON, Ryley 1
HBP: CLONCH, Cam 1
