Dirtbags Rally Back from Early Deficit, but Fall Short at No. 10 UCLA

Tuesday, March 7

Los Angeles, Calif.

5 p.m.

Long Beach State University

7-4

UCLA

10-2

Long Beach State

UCLA

Photo by: Mikaella Salazar

Dirtbags Rally Back from Early Deficit, but Fall Short at No. 10 UCLA

3/7/2023 9:04:00 PM | Baseball

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Long Beach State trailed by four after the first, but rallied back to tie it in the eighth.

By: Collin Robinson, Associate Director of Athletic Communications

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Long Beach State was inches away from taking the lead in the ninth, but ultimately came up short, 7-6, against No. 10 UCLA on Tuesday night. The Dirtbags trailed by as many as four runs after the first but rallied back to tie it up in the eighth.

After a three up, three down top of the first, the Bruins got their four runs from their first four hitters. The quartet of UCLA bats started the game with a walk, single, RBI single, and three-run home run to put them out in front early.

The teams would trade runs in the third with the Dirtbags scoring on a Ty Borgogno sacrifice fly before Long Beach State's biggest inning in the sixth.

With one out, Borgogno and Rocco Peppi would register back-to-back singles followed by Jashia Morrissey-Jakel hit by pitch to load the bases. Two batters later, Eddie Saldivar smoked a ball up the middle and off the pitcher's foot. Attempting to still get the out, the pitcher's throw would sail up the line and into foul ground allowing all three runners to come around to score making it a one-run game.

UCLA responded with a run in their half of the sixth, but the Dirtbags responded right back with one in the top of the seventh.

Trailing 6-5 going into the eighth, Jonathon Long sent a missile deep into the night for a solo home run. His third dinger of the season tied the game up at six heading into the bottom of the eight.

JONNY LOOOOOONNNGGGG ??

?? https://t.co/LO6gsLkZqe pic.twitter.com/eqSK3Iwvgq
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) March 8, 2023

Unfortunately, the Bruins would rattle off three straight singles to start their half of the inning and retake the lead.

The Dirtbags were not done yet, however, as Connor Burns got the inning started with a double to left center. Two batters later, Alex Champagne ripped a double of his own into right field. The pinch runner, staying at second in case he needed to tag up, would be forced to stop at third.

After a strikeout was recorded for the second out, the game came down to Peppi. After battling and fouling off three straight pitches, the left fielder sent a line drive toward the right field corner but a leaping grab by the Bruin first baseman would rob him of extra bases and a Dirtbag lead.

Burns had his best offensive showing of the young season, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored. Long was the other standout in the LBSU lineup with a 2-for-4 night and the eighth inning home run.

On the mound, it was an all-staff effort for Long Beach using nine pitchers to get through the eight innings.

The Dirtbags return to Bohl Diamond at Blair Field this weekend. They will play host to a three-game series with the University of South Florida. First pitch of the opener will be at 6 p.m. live on ESPN+.