USC Hands Long Beach State A 7-3 Defeat

Tuesday, March 19

Long Beach, Calif.

6 p.m.

Long Beach State University

10-8-1

USC

7-13

USC

Long Beach State

Photo by: Iori Miyakodani

3/19/2024 9:39:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Trojans Take Advantage Of LBSU Mistakes As Only 3 USC Runs Were Earned

By: Matt Turk, Associate Athletic Communications Director

LONG BEACH, Calif.—USC defeated Long Beach State 7-3 in baseball action Tuesday night at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.

John Newman Jr.'s two-out to the gap in right-centerfield scored Adrian Lopez, giving the Dirtbags a 1-0 lead.

Kevin Takeuchi doubled to lead off the top of the second. He moved to third on a Braden Dowd ground out to second. Dean Carpentier hit a comebacker to Van Larson on the mound. Larson threw home, and after a short rundown, Takeuchi was thrown out at third. Carpenter advanced to second on the play. A Larson wild pitch moved Carpenter to third. Ethan Hedges reached on a Long Beach State error, which allowed Carpenter to tie the game at one with an unearned run. Abbrie Covarrubias flew out to right to end the inning.

The Trojans broke the game open in the top of the third. USC sent 10 batters to the plate, scoring five runs. A two-out Long Beach State error resulted in three unearned runs. The Trojans added a run in the top of the fourth for a 7-1 score.

Nick Mariconz doubled with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. He came around to score on an Armando Briseno single to left. Connor Charpiot doubled in Lopez from first in the bottom of the fifth to drive in the third Long Beach State tally.

The Trojans threatened in the sixth. Before LBSU reliever Alexander Mihalakis posted two consecutive strikeouts, USC loaded the bases with no outs. Mihalakis got Covarrubias to ground into a 6-4 fielder's choice to end the inning.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, USC reliever Michael Ebner walked Kyle Ashworth. Lopez reached on an error before Xavier Martinez came on to face Charpiot. With the count 1-2, Charpiot's liner was nabbed by Chris Brown at first base for the final out.

Only three USC runs were earned as the seven Long Beach State pitchers struck out 11 Trojans. Lopez and Charpiot both recorded two hits for the Dirtbags. Ryan Jackson and Takeuchi charted three hits to pace the Trojans (7-13).

Long Beach State (10-8-1, 0-3 Big West) begins a three-game Big West series Friday night against Cal State Fullerton (8-11, 1-2 Big West). Coverage on ESPN+ starts at 6 p.m.

~#SkoBags~