Junior Mike Marjama delivered the game-winning RBI double Tuesday as Long Beach State defeated Pepperdine, 7-5, in 12 innings in Malibu.
Kirk Singer’s solo home run and run- scoring grounder to right field were keys to creating the tie in regulation.
The Dirtbags (9-7) set a season-high 13 hits, including two each for Marjama, Johnny Bekakis, Matt Hibbert and Jeff Yamaguchi.
The victory marked the sixth win for The Beach in its last seven games.
Trailing 5-3, LBSU scored twice in the top of eighth. An error and a single by Marjama put two runners on for the Dirtbags, and an RBI single scored one run for the Dirtbags. Singer then hit a hard ground ball that handcuffed Waves first baseman Torrey Jacoby, scoring Marjama to tie the game.
The Dirtbags would eventually break through once more in the top of the 12th inning. Hibbert came through with his second hit of the game to get a rally started. Following a Duffy walk, Marjama ripped a double to center off Ricky Villarreal to give LBSU a 6-5 lead.
After a runner was thrown out at the plate on a groundout, Marjama then scored an insurance run on a wild pitch to cap the scoring.
Relief pitcher Eddie Magallon (2-0), who entered the contest in the 10th inning, threw two scoreless innings to pick up the victory. Villarreal (1-1) was charged with the loss after surrendering two runs over 4 2/3 innings.
Meanwhile, Nate Underwood came in and retired the Waves (6-10) in order in the bottom of the 12th inning to record his first save of the season.
Long Beach State returns to Blair Field this weekend, hosting No. 23 Oregon State for three games beginning on Friday, March 18.
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