The Dirtbags (10-12) came from behind for a big win Sunday afternoon at Blair Field and swept the UNLV Rebels (13-13).
The first four hitters in the LBSU lineup – Jonathan Jones, Jordan Casas, Devin Lohman and TJ Mittelstaedt – all had two hits and scored eight runs while driving in seven.
Rylan Sandoval hit a two-run homer in the third to give LBSU the lead and the team never looked back.
When head coach Mike Weathers talked about his team before the season he emphasized defense and pitching – both of which were outstanding in this series, but most importantly was the team speed, especially on the basepaths.
“The base-stealing played a huge factor once again,” coach Don Strauss said. “When you have a chance to expose people [you have to do it] and we didn’t let up.”
The Dirtbags swiped five more bases in this game, and 14 in the three games overall.
“If we keep doing this, keep getting on base, keep running, there is no telling what we can do,” Jones said.
Freshman second baseman Derek Legg continued his strong play with three hits.
The hitting and strong play was contagious for the Dirtbags.
“When we get a hit we just want to keep it going,” Jones said. “We are going to drag [bunt] or even [sacrifice] and give ourselves up,” he said about the bunting game LBSU utilized so well all weekend. “Nobody is selfish.”
Drew Gagnon (2-2) went 6 1/3 innings, giving up three runs and nine hits to earn his second collegiate win. He struck out six Rebel batters and left with a one run lead, but it would become a lot more.
“I love it when it’s like that. A one run difference,” Gagnon said about battling through a close game and maybe not having his best stuff.
“My momentum kind of kicks in and wants to get outs. When I’ve got runners on base, I love that. I gotta have the pressure on me. I gotta have that.”
The Rebels jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first. Ryan Thornton doubled and scored on J.J. Sferra’s single to left. Jesse Wight’s double would plate Sferra.
LBSU cut the lead to one in the bottom half of the inning with a run of its own. Casas reached on an infield single and went to second on a throwing error. An errant pick-off throw went into centerfield sending Casas to third and he would score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Lohman.
UNLV committed four errors in the first inning alone.
LBSU took a 4-2 lead in the third with a three-run frame. Jones reached base to lead off the inning when he was hit by a pitch. Casas sacrificed Jones to second and Lohman reached on a walk. Mittelstaedt brought Jones home with a sacrifice fly and that brought Sandoval to the plate.
Sandoval drove a ball deep to left field and it carried all the way over the fence for a two-run homer. It was Sandoval’s first homer of the season and the first one at Blair Field since March 10.
UNLV cut the Dirtbags lead to one in the fourth. Brian Gilbertson led off the inning with a single and would later score on a two-out base hit by Anthony Morel.
The Dirtbags extended the lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the seventh with more small ball. With one out, Brennan Metzger singled and Jones, the next man up, did the same. With Casas at the plate, Metzger and Jones executed a great double steal to put two runners in scoring position.
With the infield pulled in to try and keep the LBSU lead at one, Casas lifted a soft liner over third to score Metzger.
With Jones now at third, Casas stole second on the next pitch to again put two Dirtbags in scoring position.
After Lohman struck out, Mittelstaedt beat out a ball in the infield for a hit, scoring Jones. Casas came around on the play as well when the throw from the second baseman got by first base and bounced to the screen in front of the LBSU dugout.
The game was blown open in the eighth when the Dirtbags got six runs on six hits and were aided by more bad UNLV defense.
They brought 11 batters to the plate in the frame and put the game well out of reach at 13-3.
The Rebels made seven total errors in the game but that number could have easily been higher.
Andrew Beresford (1-2) took the loss for UNLV giving up six runs (five earned) and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings of work.
He pitched well except for in the third and seventh innings but was routinely let down by his defense.
Long Beach travels to Northern California this week for games Tuesday night at Santa Clara and Wednesday afternoon at Cal.
Coach Don Strauss indicated a combination of pitchers would be used in the mid-week games but did say he thought both Jeff Lease and Manny McElroy would be on the mound at some point.
Junior first baseman Steve Tinoco will not be in the lineup this week but the Dirtbags hope to have him back for the start of Big West Conference play next week against UC Riverside. He is nursing a right hamstring that he injured last weekend at Wichita State.