Kirk Singer’s two-run double in the fourth inning sparked a rally that put the Long Beach State baseball team ahead by four runs as it held on for a 5-3 road victory against the University of Pacific on Saturday.
Branden Pinder (1-3) earned his first win of the season after allowing two runs and four hits over six innings, while striking out six at Klein Family Field in Stockton, Calif.
Meanwhile, Pacific starting pitcher Marcus Pointer was charged with the loss after surrendering five runs on 10 hits in six innings of work.
LBSU (14-11, 2-0 Big West Conference) got off to a quick start for the second night in a row as it struck in the top of the first inning. Matt Hibbert beat out a single to the backhand side of third baseman Dustin Torchio, and after advancing on a groundout, he beat out the throw at home plate following a single from Mike Marjama.
The Dirtbags added another run in the second as Michael Hill cracked a one-out double and scored on an RBI single by fellow freshman Jeff McNeil.
The Tigers (7-16, 0-2 Big West) then scored following a leadoff triple from Allen Riley, who tagged from third on a sacrifice fly. However, the damage was limited to a single run as Pinder retired the three consecutive batters.
LBSU would eventually pull away in the fourth with back-to-back singles from Ino Patron and Jonathan Kim. Following sacrifice, Singer’s double scored both runs to extend the Dirtbags’ lead to 4-1.
The Dirtbags then loaded the bases before McNeill avoided a tag on a groundout by Matt Hibbert until Singer had crossed the plate for the fifth LBSU run of the contest.
The Tigers scored another run in the fifth inning following a leadoff walk, but Pinder left with 5-2 lead before UOP added one more run in the bottom of the eighth inning off of Matt Johnson.
However, Patron corralled a wild throw from Hill to retire Brian Martin and end the inning.
LBSU closer Eddie Magallon gave up a double to Riley in the ninth, but recovered by inducing a groundout and striking out Torchio to pick up his sixth save of the season.
The Dirtbags will attempt to get their first series sweep Sunday against Pacific at 1 p.m. Shawn Stuart will take the mound for LBSU as he takes on Pacific’s Jake Hummel.
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