Dirtbags Sweep Conference Foes

The Long Beach Dirtbags complete their first series sweep of the season by defeating UC Santa Barbara 4-3 Sunday afternoon.  With the victory, Long Beach improves their winning streak to six games.

The Dirtbags narrowly escaped Sunday with a win thanks to the strong pitching performance by senior starting pitcher Shawn Stuart who threw seven strong innings allowing only one run on four hits while striking out seven Gauchos.

"We've (Long Beach) been in a ton of close games," said Head Coach Troy Buckley.  "The team has shown a lot of composure and have been able to stay in the moment and forget about what happened previously or what might happen next."

It was a pitcher's duel most of the game until Long Beach posted the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth.  A see and eye single from freshman Richard Pritagano brought home Brennan Metzger, followed by a sacrifice fly by Johnny Bekakis to bring in Jeff McNeil giving the Dirtbags the first runs of the game.

Long Beach's Shawn Stuart (pictured right) held hitters at bay once again Sunday.  Santa Barbara was only able to score one run off the senior, which came from a double off the left field wall from the bat of third baseman Ryan Palermo.  "Stewart had another well-pitched performance," Coach Troy Buckley praised about his starter.  "He got us into that seventh inning, and was the difference maker in the game."

Landon Hunt of the Dirtbags threw the eighth inning in relief for Stuart.  Kyle Friedrichs then closed the game out in the ninth but not without some late-game drama. 

With a two run lead going into the ninth inning the Gauchos were able to score a run and put the tying run at third, but Friedrichs proved he was closer material by getting the next two hitters out, earning him his fifth save of the season.

"Kyle didn't have a lot of luck today," said Coach Buckley.  "He gave up a couple infield singles and then a pinch hitter that we didn't know much about stepped in and delivered, but he held his composure and knew what the situation was even when it got a little hairy."

With the three game sweep of Santa Barbara the Dirtbags improve their overall record to 16-17 and more importantly a 7-2 record against Big West opponents.  "When you accomplish a sweep in your conference that's a big deal.  No matter who you play it's hard to beat someone three times, especially in two days,"  Coach Buckley remarked about his team's play.

The Dirtbags will travel to Loyola Marymount on Tuesday, then return to Blair Field to face-off against UC Irvine for the black and blue weekend series beginning at 6:30 p.m. April 20.