Sunday, April 2
Long Beach, Calif.
1 p.m.
Long Beach State University
9
vs
8
Cal Poly
Photo by: John Fajardo
Saldivar Walks it Off in the Tenth to Complete Series Sweep
4/2/2023 6:13:00 PM | Baseball
The Dirtbags had three walkoff victories this week and have now won eight straight games.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – For the third time this week, Long Beach State was victorious in walkoff fashion extending their win streak to eight straight games on Sunday afternoon. The win also gives the Dirtbags (18-8, 6-3 Big West) their second consecutive conference series sweep taking all three games over Cal Poly (7-17, 3-6 Big West).
Cal Poly got the scoring started in the finale with two runs in the top of the second. However, the Dirtbags responded with a six-run third sending 11 hitters to the plate and scoring every run with two outs. The big swing of the inning came off the bat of Jonathon Long, who launched a two-run shot to left, his fourth home run of the week and seventh of the season.
The Mustangs rallied back though with two in the fourth, one in the fifth, and two more in the sixth to tie the game at 7-7.
After the two sides traded zeros in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, it was time for extra inning baseball at Blair for the first time this season.
In the top half of the tenth, Cal Poly got a leadoff single and then a two-out walk forced the Dirtbags to go to the bullpen with a pair of Mustangs on the bases. Their RBI leader Joe Yorke would promptly single into left field to plate the go ahead run.
Needing one run to tie or two to take the lead, the first two Dirtbags were retired to start their half of the tenth. Down to his final strike, Tyler White got a pitch over the heart of the plate and launched it over the wall in left-center for a game-tying home run. It is the second home run of the season for the sophomore and kept LBSU alive.
Nick Marinconz would follow with a single into left field, followed by consecutive walks to Joey Walls Jr. and pinch hitter, Alex Champagne. With the bases loaded, Eddie Saldivar stepped into the box and lined the first pitch he saw into center for a walkoff RBI single.
The Dirtbags have now won eight consecutive games, the longest win streak for the program since winning eight in a row during the 2017 season. It is also the longest streak of the Coach Valenzuela era.
Long Beach State will carry the momentum into a midweek rematch with No. 12 UCLA on Tuesday. First pitch at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field will be at 6 p.m. live on ESPN+.
Cal Poly got the scoring started in the finale with two runs in the top of the second. However, the Dirtbags responded with a six-run third sending 11 hitters to the plate and scoring every run with two outs. The big swing of the inning came off the bat of Jonathon Long, who launched a two-run shot to left, his fourth home run of the week and seventh of the season.
The Mustangs rallied back though with two in the fourth, one in the fifth, and two more in the sixth to tie the game at 7-7.
After the two sides traded zeros in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, it was time for extra inning baseball at Blair for the first time this season.
In the top half of the tenth, Cal Poly got a leadoff single and then a two-out walk forced the Dirtbags to go to the bullpen with a pair of Mustangs on the bases. Their RBI leader Joe Yorke would promptly single into left field to plate the go ahead run.
Needing one run to tie or two to take the lead, the first two Dirtbags were retired to start their half of the tenth. Down to his final strike, Tyler White got a pitch over the heart of the plate and launched it over the wall in left-center for a game-tying home run. It is the second home run of the season for the sophomore and kept LBSU alive.
FIRE. ME. UPPPPPP T-WHITE @Tyler_White_10_
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 2, 2023
?? https://t.co/30kfyEtryg pic.twitter.com/8yM8vA6S8J
Nick Marinconz would follow with a single into left field, followed by consecutive walks to Joey Walls Jr. and pinch hitter, Alex Champagne. With the bases loaded, Eddie Saldivar stepped into the box and lined the first pitch he saw into center for a walkoff RBI single.
.@EddieSaldivar3 plays hero in our third walkoff THIS WEEK! #skoBags pic.twitter.com/LZhKHyulv1
— LBSU Dirtbags (@LBDirtbags) April 3, 2023
The Dirtbags have now won eight consecutive games, the longest win streak for the program since winning eight in a row during the 2017 season. It is also the longest streak of the Coach Valenzuela era.
Long Beach State will carry the momentum into a midweek rematch with No. 12 UCLA on Tuesday. First pitch at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field will be at 6 p.m. live on ESPN+.
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