Report by LBSU

The Dirtbags recovered from a slow start on Saturday with late fireworks, scoring two runs in the seventh to tie the game and then four runs in the eighth to win 8-4 over UC Santa Barbara. Jordan Casas had the go-ahead hit, knocking in two runs in the eighth, part of three RBI on the day.

Brennan Metzger also had three RBI for the Dirtbags on three hits, extending his hitting streak as the Dirtbags rallied to win their second Big West series and grab their first three-game winning streak of the year.

Nick Capito was the story of the early innings however. The Gauchos starting pitcher started off the game by striking out the side in the first inning, and only allowed three hits through three innings. With that backing them, the Gauchos snuck across an unearned run in the first inning with no hits, and in the third strung together three hits to get another run.

After loading the bases in the third inning, Thompson got out of another jam by getting a ground-ball double play and a strikeout to end the threat, but UCSB scored another run to take the lead 3-0.

Fortunes changed in the fourth inning, as Lohman drilled a liner directly back at Caputo, who took a nasty shot but was able to leave the field under his own power. After a reliever was warmed up, Joey Terdoslavich doubled to score Lohman, and Terdoslavich scored on a Casas single to cut the lead down to 3-2.

UCSB scored another run in the fifth inning, pushing a run across after a leadoff single by Gunnar Terhune, and Loredo, after surrendering two hits in the fourth, settled down and got through the next two innings scoreless, as did Thompson.

After the stretch, Steve Tinoco singled and Casas was hit to put two runners on, and then with the bases loaded, a double-play scored Tinoco to bring the lead back to one. Metzger then singled to tie the game at four.

Cris Trout worked the eighth for the Dirtbags, and got the win after Long Beach State scored more in the bottom half. Terdoslavich walked to lead off the inning, and two perfect bunts from Jonathan Jones and Steve Tinoco loaded up the bases with no outs, as both were able to reach safely.

Casas then doubled down the line over the head of first baseman Trevor Whyte to score two runs, and Metzger followed with a double down the left field line to score two more, giving the Dirtbags an 8-4 lead.

The teams close out the series tomorrow afternoon at Blair Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.