Thursday, May 25
Long Beach, Calif.
6 p.m.
Long Beach State University
vs
UC Davis
Photo by: Mikaella Salazar
Dirtbags Close Out Season with UC Davis at Home
5/24/2023 10:52:00 AM | Baseball
Long Beach State’s 2023 campaign will end this weekend with a three-game set against the Aggies.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State is set for their final series of the season as they host UC Davis for a three-game set this weekend. The three games will deviate from the normal weekend setup and will be played Thursday through Saturday.
Long Beach State (30-22, 14-13 Big West) vs. UC Davis (17-34, 7-20 Big West)
Thursday, May 25
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Pitching Matchup: Nico Zeglin (LBSU) vs. Bryan Green (UCD)
Friday, May 26
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Pitching Matchup: Graham Osman (LBSU) vs. Kaden Hogan (UCD)
Saturday, May 27
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Pitching Matchup: TBA vs. Nate Freeman (UCD)
ABOUT THE 'BAGS
• The Dirtbags own a 30-22 overall record and 14-13 mark in conference play after winning their second consecutive weekend series, but are unfortunately out of the running for the Big West title.
• The offense owns a .267/.352/.425 slash line with 317 runs scored in their 52 games. Of their 469 hits, 163 have gone for extra bases. Their 56 home runs ranks second in the Big West.
• The pitching staff now owns a 4.56 team ERA with a 1.42 WHIP. In 465 innings of work, they have racked up 510 strikeouts compared to 184 walks. They rank third in the conference in both ERA and strikeouts.
STRIKEOUT MACHINE
• Since Coach Valenzuela took over the program, the pitching staff has been striking people out at record pace posting the highest K/9 in 2021 (9.48) and second highest in 2022 (9.40).
• In 465 innings this year, they have 510 strikeouts which is good for a 9.9 K/9 second in the conference and 31st in the nation. That mark would be the highest in program history. They also eclipsed the 500-strikeout mark for the sixth time in program history, second in the Valenzuela era, and currently sit at number five for most in single-season history.
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
• More than strikeouts, the pitching staff continues to put up numbers among the nation's best under Coach Valenzuela's leadership.
• Their highest marks come as the number 11 team in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 2.77 this season. They also rank 13th in shutouts (5) and26th in walks per nine (3.56). They also rank 31st in strikeouts per nine (9.9) and 38th in ERA (4.56).
• Offensively, the bats are 32nd in sacrifice flies (32) and 65th in sacrifice bunts (27) while the defense's .973 ranks 99th in the NCAA.
POWER SURGE
• The Long Beach offense has put up some impressive numbers this year, resulting in one of the best offensive seasons in over a decade.
• The biggest standout of it all is the power numbers as their 56 home runs ranks third most in single-season history and most since 1999. Their .425 slugging percentage is also the highest for a full 50-plus game season since 2002.
• This season, the 'Bags have recorded 292 RBI, marking the most since 2008. With eight more, they will eclipse 300 for the first time since that 2008 season.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
• UC Davis enters the final weekend of the season with a 17-34 overall record and 7-20 mark in conference play, sitting in second-to-last in the Big West standings. They have lost eight consecutive games.
• Their offense owns a .252/.336/.368 slash line with 30 home runs and 235 runs scored in their 51 games played. They have 133 extra-base hits of their 436 hits.
• As a staff, the pitching owns a 5.81 team ERA with a 1.65 WHIP. In 447 innings, they own 320 strikeouts compared to 240 walks. Opponents have hit .287 against them this season.
AGAINST THE OPPONENT
• Long Beach State and UC Davis have faced off 53 times in program history with LBSU leading the all-time series 37-16 and winners of seven consecutive games. In the Valenzuela era, the Dirtbags are undefeated.
• When hosting the Aggies, the all-time mark stands at 21-5 in favor of the black and gold with a current four-home game win streak.
QUICK HITS FROM THE SEASON
• The Dirtbags are heading into the final weekend of the season as they host UC Davis for the last series.
• With three games left, they have already reached the 30-win mark for the first time since the 2017 season when the team won 42 games. It is the 22nd time in the Dirtbag era (since 1989).
• The longest win streak of the year was eight games from March 22 to April 2, the longest stretch for the program since 2017.
NASTY NICO
• Nico Zeglin has also been a revelation in the Dirtbags weekend rotation and turned himself into a strikeout machine since transferring to LBSU.
• For the fifth consecutive week, the right-hander registered a quality start for his ninth of the season. Tossing 6.1 innings against Fullerton, he surrendered just one run on five hits and two walks.
• He currently ranks ninth in the nation in ERA (2.16), 11th in WHIP (1.00), and 13th in strikeouts (107). With one more start, he is 11 K's shy of entering the Dirtbags' single-season top ten.
JONNY LONG-BALLS
• Jonathon Long continues to torment baseballs this season leading the team in average, on-base percentage, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, walks, and total bases. In his draft-eligible season, he is etching his name into the Long Beach State record books.
• Against Fullerton he launched his 13th bomb of the season, he now owns 24 in his collegiate career putting him in a tie for second most in program history.
• He also ranks seventh in career slugging percentage (.536) and 15th in on-base percentage (.410).
FEEL THE BURN
• Connor Burns is widely regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in the country and has the accolades to prove it as the reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Year and a Gold Glove finalist in 2022. This year, he has the offense to go with it and is rapidly increasing his draft stock.
• Continuing his career-best year, he now owns a .303 season average and .372 on-base percentage. He leads the team with a .585 slug and ranks second in doubles, triples, home runs, total bases and RBI.
• Behind the dish, he owns a .991 fielding percentage with career-highs in putouts and assists. He also has thrown out 15 would-be base stealers of 30 attempts. In his three years as a Dirtbag, he owns a 49.3% rate throwing out 36 of a potential 73 baserunners.
THE BASH BROTHERS
• Long Beach State has seen a power surge this season and it has been headlined by the dynamic duo of Jonathon Long and Connor Burns. Togehter, they rank one-two in average, slugging percentage, doubles, home runs, and total bases.
• With 13 and 12 home runs from the pair, respectively, they are the first Long Beach duo to have double-digit homers since the 1999 season when Jaime Leal and Greg Dobbs combined for 34.
Long Beach State (30-22, 14-13 Big West) vs. UC Davis (17-34, 7-20 Big West)
Thursday, May 25
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Pitching Matchup: Nico Zeglin (LBSU) vs. Bryan Green (UCD)
Friday, May 26
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Pitching Matchup: Graham Osman (LBSU) vs. Kaden Hogan (UCD)
Saturday, May 27
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Bohl Diamond at Blair Field
Pitching Matchup: TBA vs. Nate Freeman (UCD)
ABOUT THE 'BAGS
• The Dirtbags own a 30-22 overall record and 14-13 mark in conference play after winning their second consecutive weekend series, but are unfortunately out of the running for the Big West title.
• The offense owns a .267/.352/.425 slash line with 317 runs scored in their 52 games. Of their 469 hits, 163 have gone for extra bases. Their 56 home runs ranks second in the Big West.
• The pitching staff now owns a 4.56 team ERA with a 1.42 WHIP. In 465 innings of work, they have racked up 510 strikeouts compared to 184 walks. They rank third in the conference in both ERA and strikeouts.
STRIKEOUT MACHINE
• Since Coach Valenzuela took over the program, the pitching staff has been striking people out at record pace posting the highest K/9 in 2021 (9.48) and second highest in 2022 (9.40).
• In 465 innings this year, they have 510 strikeouts which is good for a 9.9 K/9 second in the conference and 31st in the nation. That mark would be the highest in program history. They also eclipsed the 500-strikeout mark for the sixth time in program history, second in the Valenzuela era, and currently sit at number five for most in single-season history.
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
• More than strikeouts, the pitching staff continues to put up numbers among the nation's best under Coach Valenzuela's leadership.
• Their highest marks come as the number 11 team in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 2.77 this season. They also rank 13th in shutouts (5) and26th in walks per nine (3.56). They also rank 31st in strikeouts per nine (9.9) and 38th in ERA (4.56).
• Offensively, the bats are 32nd in sacrifice flies (32) and 65th in sacrifice bunts (27) while the defense's .973 ranks 99th in the NCAA.
POWER SURGE
• The Long Beach offense has put up some impressive numbers this year, resulting in one of the best offensive seasons in over a decade.
• The biggest standout of it all is the power numbers as their 56 home runs ranks third most in single-season history and most since 1999. Their .425 slugging percentage is also the highest for a full 50-plus game season since 2002.
• This season, the 'Bags have recorded 292 RBI, marking the most since 2008. With eight more, they will eclipse 300 for the first time since that 2008 season.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
• UC Davis enters the final weekend of the season with a 17-34 overall record and 7-20 mark in conference play, sitting in second-to-last in the Big West standings. They have lost eight consecutive games.
• Their offense owns a .252/.336/.368 slash line with 30 home runs and 235 runs scored in their 51 games played. They have 133 extra-base hits of their 436 hits.
• As a staff, the pitching owns a 5.81 team ERA with a 1.65 WHIP. In 447 innings, they own 320 strikeouts compared to 240 walks. Opponents have hit .287 against them this season.
AGAINST THE OPPONENT
• Long Beach State and UC Davis have faced off 53 times in program history with LBSU leading the all-time series 37-16 and winners of seven consecutive games. In the Valenzuela era, the Dirtbags are undefeated.
• When hosting the Aggies, the all-time mark stands at 21-5 in favor of the black and gold with a current four-home game win streak.
QUICK HITS FROM THE SEASON
• The Dirtbags are heading into the final weekend of the season as they host UC Davis for the last series.
• With three games left, they have already reached the 30-win mark for the first time since the 2017 season when the team won 42 games. It is the 22nd time in the Dirtbag era (since 1989).
• The longest win streak of the year was eight games from March 22 to April 2, the longest stretch for the program since 2017.
NASTY NICO
• Nico Zeglin has also been a revelation in the Dirtbags weekend rotation and turned himself into a strikeout machine since transferring to LBSU.
• For the fifth consecutive week, the right-hander registered a quality start for his ninth of the season. Tossing 6.1 innings against Fullerton, he surrendered just one run on five hits and two walks.
• He currently ranks ninth in the nation in ERA (2.16), 11th in WHIP (1.00), and 13th in strikeouts (107). With one more start, he is 11 K's shy of entering the Dirtbags' single-season top ten.
JONNY LONG-BALLS
• Jonathon Long continues to torment baseballs this season leading the team in average, on-base percentage, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, walks, and total bases. In his draft-eligible season, he is etching his name into the Long Beach State record books.
• Against Fullerton he launched his 13th bomb of the season, he now owns 24 in his collegiate career putting him in a tie for second most in program history.
• He also ranks seventh in career slugging percentage (.536) and 15th in on-base percentage (.410).
FEEL THE BURN
• Connor Burns is widely regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in the country and has the accolades to prove it as the reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Year and a Gold Glove finalist in 2022. This year, he has the offense to go with it and is rapidly increasing his draft stock.
• Continuing his career-best year, he now owns a .303 season average and .372 on-base percentage. He leads the team with a .585 slug and ranks second in doubles, triples, home runs, total bases and RBI.
• Behind the dish, he owns a .991 fielding percentage with career-highs in putouts and assists. He also has thrown out 15 would-be base stealers of 30 attempts. In his three years as a Dirtbag, he owns a 49.3% rate throwing out 36 of a potential 73 baserunners.
THE BASH BROTHERS
• Long Beach State has seen a power surge this season and it has been headlined by the dynamic duo of Jonathon Long and Connor Burns. Togehter, they rank one-two in average, slugging percentage, doubles, home runs, and total bases.
• With 13 and 12 home runs from the pair, respectively, they are the first Long Beach duo to have double-digit homers since the 1999 season when Jaime Leal and Greg Dobbs combined for 34.
Players Mentioned
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