Reports From LBSU

Branden Pinder threw eight innings of one-run ball, but was matched by UCSB’s Jesse Meaux and the Gauchos scored three in the ninth to top Long Beach State 4-1. Pinder gave up only three hits and struck out five on the day.

Both Branden Pinder and Jesse Meaux started out the final game of the series between Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara in complete control. Pinder threw four innings without allowing a run, and after the Dirtbags got two hits in the first, including the first of three hits for Devin Lohman on the day, Meaux picked up the third out, and would proceed to retire the next 11 Dirtbag hitters.

UCSB got a leadoff single from Trevor Whyte in the fifth inning, and a little bit of wildness would haunt Pinder, as he walked a batter and hit two before getting the third out, with Whyte coming home to score on the bases-loaded HBP.

Both pitchers continued to cruise until the eighth, as Long Beach State had their best opportunity to score since the first inning. Joel Thys picked up a one-out single, and after pinch-runner Tre Dennis stole second,Brennan Metzger singled up the middle. However, Dennis was thrown out at home on a spectacular throw from shortstop Matt Valaika, and the Dirtbags remained behind 1-0.

In the ninth, UC Santa Barbara added three runs by touching up the Dirtbag bullpen along with a Long Beach State error to take a 4-0 lead. Lohman and Joey Terdoslavich repeated their first inning back-to-back hits, putting two runners on, but after a sacrifice fly fromJonathan Jones, Steve Tinoco lined into a double play, ending the game. 

Long Beach State is on the road for all four games next week, heading south to San Diego for a Tuesday game against San Diego State before playing a Big West series at Cal Poly.