FULLERTON — The Long Beach State Dirtbags dug itself out of a nine-run hole and took a two-run lead, but ultimately fell short in a 14-12 loss to No. 9-ranked Cal State Fullerton on Saturday night at Goodwin Field.
Tied at 9 in the seventh inning, LBSU (24-24, 8-9 Big West Conference) took a two-run advantage following a pair of RBI singles from shortstop Kirk Singer and senior Matt Hibbert.
However, the Titans answered in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and bases loaded, Titans’ shortstop Richy Pedroza smacked LBSU reliever John Maciel’s first pitch to deep right field for a three-RBI double and the go ahead run that gave Maciel (0-1) his first loss.
Jake Floethe (4-3) took the mound in the eighth inning for the Titans and kept the Dirtbags from scoring while the Titans added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Titans’ closer Nick Ramirez picked up his 14th save for his ninth inning performance. Ramirez allowed just one run.
“I’m really proud of how [the Dirtbags] competed,” LBSU head coach Troy Buckley said.
LBSU pitcher Ryan Strufing threw three solid innings after the second inning and kept the Titans scoreless as the Dirtbags rallied to tie the game in the sixth inning. The Dirtbags first two runs came on errors, the first of which was a solo run in the third inning.
Center fielder Brennan Metzger led off the top of the fifth. Metzger took first base due to a throwing error by Pedroza. Hibbert then came to the plate two batters later and Metzger on third thanks to a steal and a wild pitch. After striking out on another wild pitch in the dirt, Hibbert took first as he beat out a bad throw, while Metzger was able to cross home.
LBSU catcher Mike Marjama then came to the plate after a base hit by left fielder Jeff McNeil and hit a three-run home run – his first of the season to cut the deficit, 9-5. Metzger then came up to bat again and brought in two more runs with single to center field.
In the next inning, the comeback was complete as the Dirtbags added two more runs. Singer started the frame with a single, and after a sacrifice, another single put runners on the corners for Marjama, who came through once more with an RBI double. LBSU first baseman Ino Patron then hit an RBI groundout as LBSU tied the game at 9.
The Dirtbags will return to action Sunday to close out the three-game series with the Titans at Goodwin Field. LBSU’s effort to avoid a sweep will start at 1:00 p.m.
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