Dirtbags Sweep Loyola Marymount in Weekend Series

“Never say Die” best exemplified the Long Beach State baseball team, who won Monday 7-5 to sweep the Loyola Marymount Lions in a non-conference series where the Dirtbags had to come from behind in two of the three games.

Dirtbags head coach Troy Buckley best summarized the game as he said “A lot of strange things happened today, but the team did a good job tonight.”

Trailing 5-3 Long Beach State (24-21, 11-4 BWC) scored four times in the bottom of the eighth inning to retake the lead, as the Dirtbags put together some timely pinch-hitting, aggressive base running, and untimely errors by the Lions.

With two outs, pinch hitter Jonathon Kim walked.   He then advanced to third on Jeff McNeil’s single. McNeil then advanced to second on the error. Johnny Bekakis singled, driving in both Kim and McNeil. Pinch Hitter Ino Patron singled, driving in Bekakis.  Josh Guerra pinch ran for Patron, and scored on two passed balls.  LMU finally got out of the inning when Juan Avila struck out for the third out.

“The guys off the bench (Patron and Kim) stepped up and did their job,” Buckley said.

Zach Fujimoto was the Lions’ lone bright spot going 3 for 4 with four RBI’s.

Long Beach took the early lead, but each time LMU will respond. Long Beach starter Shaun Stuart gave up three consecutive hits to load the bases.  The Lions exploded for three runs in the sixth inning as Fujimoto cleared the bases with a three-run double to take its first lead of the game 5-3.

Avila was the hero Sunday as he went 2 for 4 including a three-run homerun in the sixth inning to take a 5-0 lead.  Long Beach would hold on to win 5-4.

One-run games had been the Achilles’ heel of the 49ers all season as they were 9-10 in such games.  Saturday, the Dirtbags would open the series with a win in such manner. 

Trailing 4-2 Long Beach state would rally in the ninth to tie the game at 4-4.  Long Beach loaded the bases in the 10th.  Jeff Yamaguchi then drew the bases loaded walk to win the game 5-4.

“It’s very difficult to sweep any team,” Buckley said.  “They’re a very good team, contending for the West Coast Conference, and they’re like a game and half behind.”

Long Beach State plays its final road series as it travels to take on the UC Davis Aggies this weekend.

BOX SCORE                       1 2 3      4 5 6       7 8 9       R H  E

Loyola Marymount            0 0 1      0 1 3       0 0 0        5 10 1

Long Beach State              0 1 0      1 1 0       0 4 X        7  9  1

WP - Eddie Megallon (1-3)                          S - Edgar Gomez (1)

LP -  Aaron Griffin (3-5)