Freshman Jeff McNeil collected three hits for the Long Beach State baseball team, but it wasn’t enough as UC Santa Barbara’s pitching staff threw its second straight complete game Friday in a 7-2 win over the Dirtbags at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
The loss marked the third in a row for LBSU, while UCSB has now won three consecutive games.
LBSU starter Shaun Stuart (2-3) was charged with the loss as he lasted just one inning as he surrendered four runs on three hits and three walks.
UCSB starter Greg Davis (4-2) earned the win as he threw a complete game and allowed just two runs on 10 hits and no walks.
UCSB broke the scoreless game open in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly from Mark Haddow. From there, a single by Derek Eligio followed by two walks and a single from Joe Wallace brought home a second run as UCSB took a 2-0 lead over LBSU (18-18, 5-6 Big West Conference).
The Gauchos (17-16, 4-4 Big West) added two more in the bottom of the second as Stuart’s third walk of the game led to his substitution for Matt Johnson.
With the bases loaded following a hit batter by Johnson, a single scored one run and a double-play scored another to give the Gauchos a 4-0 lead after two innings.
UCSB added three more runs over the next two innings to take a 7-0 lead after four, which was more than enough cushion for Greg Davis, who earned his fourth win of the year with a complete game — the second of the series for the Gauchos.
LBSU freshman Ryan Strufing then came on in relief and threw four scoreless innings for the Dirtbags, while striking out two as LBSU’s third pitcher of the game.
The Dirtbags eventually scored a pair of runs in the eighth inning, but it would be too little, too late. After a single by McNeil — his third of the day — Ino Patron doubled to get the Dirtbags on the board. A base hit by Mike Marjama then cut the lead to 7-2.
However, that would be as close as LBSU would get as the Gauchos cruised for the victory.
LBSU will conclude its series with UCSB on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
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