With a diving stab and quick throw to second base for the out, Long Beach State third baseman Juan Avila secured a series sweep over UC Santa Barbara, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at Blair Field.
The Gauchos threatened the Dirtbags two-run lead in the ninth inning with three singles off of LBSU sophomore reliever Kyle Friedrichs that eventually led to one run, but thanks to Avila’s defense and two groundouts, UCSB stranded the tying run on third base.
The series victory was the of its kind for the Dirtbags (16-17, 7-2) as they have taken two of three games from Cal Poly and UC Riverside, respectively before sweeping the Gauchos on Sunday.
“You accomplish a sweep in conference and it’s a big deal,” head coach Troy Buckley said. “It’s hard to beat anyone three times and even three times in two days.”
For the third series finale in as many weeks Dirtbags starting pitcher Shawn Stuart (4-0) was dominant, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning. Stuart would keep the Gauchos (17-17, 4-5) at bay in seven innings pitched while striking out seven and allowing one run over 115 pitches.
In his last three starts Stuart has allowed just three runs in 23 innings to go along with 22 strikeouts. The first two starts clinched series victories for the Dirtbags, but LBSU clinched the series against the Gauchos Saturday night in a 14-inning 5-4 win.
“[Stuart’s] ability to hold his composure to give [us] the best chance [to win] was key,” Buckley said. “I think Stuart had another well pitched performance.”
The score remained knotted in a tie till the Dirtbags struck first putting two runs on the board against UCSB starter Zak Edgington (1-3) in the fifth inning.
Dirtbags freshman Richard Prigatano singled to left field to score senior Brennan Metzger. Metzger began the inning with a walk and proceeded to steal second base before Edgington walked sophomore second baseman Jeff McNeil.
The Gauchos southpaw then hit senior catcher Kellen Hoime before sophomore left fielder Johnny Bekakis sent a first-pitch fastball into left field for a sacrifice fly, scoring McNeil to put the score at 2-0.
The Dirtbags scored two more runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but not before the Gauchos would respond in the bottom half of the sixth.
Lance Roenicke led off the sixth with a single to left field before Ryan Palermo’s double off of the left field wall scored him.
The Gauchos would continue to threaten the Dirtbags lead by scoring a run in the eighth and ninth innings even, including the stranded runner on third, but LBSU relievers Landon Hunt and Friedrichs would not budge.
Friedrichs came on in the ninth inning, allowing the one run, but still holding the Gauchos for his fifth save of the season.
Junior shortstop Matt Duffy paced the Dirtbags with two hits in three at-bats with a walk, including a single in the seventh inning that allowed sophomore Ino Patron to score Hoime via sacrifice fly.
Gauchos second baseman Brandon Trinkwon, who led the Big West in most major offensive categories coming into the series, was held to one hit in 13 at-bats against Long Beach State pitching, including four strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Edgington lasted five and 2/3 innings while taking his third loss of the season. The lefthander gave up three runs and struck out five batters, but his three walks in the fifth inning plagued his previously respectable game.
The Dirtbags visit Loyola Marymount Tuesday in the first leg of a home and home series before hosting UC Irvine next weekend at Blair Field in another notable Big West series.