Dirtbags Even Series Against No. 9 Arizona State

The Dirtbags break their six-game losing streak beating the No. 9 Arizona State Sun Devils 7-3 Saturday at Blair field.  The win was contributed to a quality start by pitcher Matt Anderson and a 3-RBI game by shortstop Matt Duffy.

"It was a good collective win all the way around and in all areas of the game," Long Beach Head Coach, Troy Buckley, said.  "This was a real good character game for the guys."

Long Beach quickly got on the board by building a six run lead, scoring three runs each in the second and third innings of the game.  ASU answered back with three runs in the fifth inning, but that was as close as they got, because Long Beach held them scoreless the rest of the way through.

Dirtbags Center Fielder, Brennan Metzger, lead off the second inning with a single up the middle, followed by a stolen base at second.  Right Fielder Richard Prigatano advanced to first after being beamed by a pitch, and after a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners by first basemen Jeff Yamaguchi, Matt Duffy pelted a line-drive to left center field to bring home Metzger.  The Dirtbags put two more runs on the board after ASU failed to convert two straight double play opportunities.

In the third inning Duffy came through once again for the Dirtbags bringing home third basemen Juan Avila and center fielder  Brennan Metzger on a two out line-drive single to center.  Duffy had been battling a hitting slump as of late and contributed Saturday's success to his coaches.  "Coach just told me to focus on one thing," Duffy commented.  "I just tried to see the ball as big as I could and just simplified my approach at the plate.  I (Duffy) incorporated a high leg kick in my swing over the summer, and today I just axed it.  I just need to focus on seeing the ball without focusing so much on my timing with the kick."

   

Junior starting pitcher Matt Anderson earned the win in a quality start versus a good hitting team in ASU.  Anderson threw for over six innings, allowing eight hits and three runs, while striking out four.  Pitchers Nick Sabo and Kyle Friedrichs threw fantastic in relief holding the Sun Devils scoreless and preserving the much needed win over a ranked opponent.

"Anderson has not had a wheels-fall-off game this year,"  Coach Buckley mentioned.  "He's kept us in every game he has pitched, which is pretty impressive for only pitching one year prior.  His biggest strength is his competitive nature."

The Dirtbags will wrap up the weekend series against ASU Sunday at 1 p.m. at Blair Field.  Long Beach will then play rival Cal State Fullerton at Fullerton for a weekend series against the Titans starting March 16 at 7 p.m. 



A Week of Woes

Long Beach State gets swept by Oregon over the weekend, making it their fourth defeat in as many games.  Even more disappointing was that each loss to the Oregon Ducks was by only one run. 

The Dirtbags got off to a rocky start on the road in their meeting with the UCLA Bruins on Tuesday Feb. 28, losing by a score of 9-1.  Shortstop Matt Duffy had the only RBI for the Dirtbags, hitting a single in the fourth inning.

No. 12 Oregon hosted the Dirtbags for a three game series starting Friday night.  Each game of the series ended in dramatic walk-off fashion, unfortunately for the Dirtbags, it was the Ducks who were the victors every time.  Even more heartbreaking was losing Saturday's contest in 13 innings, which was the longest game played by Long Beach State since the 2007 season.

The late-game heroics of Oregon certainly makes room for consideration on to whom the Dirtbags can trust to pitch in the late stretch of a game.  "We have six guys in our bullpen that can make a case to be our closer," Dirtbags head coach Troy Buckley said, "We will have to see who can step-up and challenge themselves for that role.  We'll see what happens."

Long Beach State now holds an overall record of 4-7, but despite what their record says, the Dirtbags have showed great resiliency during the weekend series against Oregon.  Right fielder Juan Avila has stepped up in a huge way, giving LBSU some nice offensive production.  Avila is currently hitting for a .357 average, leading the club in slugging percentage at .429 and runs scored 10.  The Dirtbags will need Avila and others in the middle of the lineup to produce in order to pull away in close games, and to ease the pressure off the pitching staff.

The Dirtbags now head back to Blair Field for a home game against San Diego State on Tuesday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m.  Long Beach will continue with a home series against a formidable Pac-12 opponent in Arizona State starting Friday, March 9.  "We have to take care of our mistakes against those guys (ASU)," coach Buckley stated.  "In my opinion their the best ball and dirt team we'll play this year, so its important we stay focused."  Click here for a look at the upcoming schedule for the Long Beach.