Long Beach State baseball just can’t get out of its own way this year.
The Dirtbags took an early lead off of a Steve Tinoco homer, but two unearned runs in the later innings put Cal State Fullerton over the top in a 4-3 loss. TJ Mittelstaedt had two triples, tying a Long Beach State single-game record.
Tinoco’s solo shot in the first was followed by a triple from TJ Mittelstaedt, but the Dirtbags could do no further damage in the inning, taking a 1-0 lead after the first frame.
The Titans took the lead in the second inning. Two bunt singles got Cal State Fullerton going, and then Christian Colon doubled to right center, bringing home both runners to give the Titans a 2-1 lead.
The Dirtbags tied up the game in the top of the fifth. Kellen Hoime walked on four pitches while Renken focused on Jonathan Jones at second after a leadoff hit, eventually picking off Jones after he slipped going back to the bag. Jordan Casas doubled to tie the score though, as Hoime came around from first on Casas’ hit to the wall in left center.
Cal State Fullerton regained the lead in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on a Long Beach State error to score an unearned run with two outs on a popup. Jeff Newman home from third, following a double play moving him to third base with two on.
Mittelstaedt’s second triple of the game got Long Beach State started in the sixth inning, and an RBI single by Devin Lohman allowed the Dirtbags to tie the game at three. Two walks would load the bases with two outs, but Renken got a called strike three on a Kellen Hoime check swing to end the threat.
Cal State Fullerton scored again in the bottom of the sixth to maintain the lead, courtesy of two Long Beach State errors. The big error came with one out, as Long Beach State looked to turn a double play but it was ruled on the field that Devin Lohman had not tagged the bag, giving the Titans two runners with one out. After a walk, Gary Brown then beat out an infield single to give the Titans a 4-3 lead.
Long Beach State returns to Goodwin Field for game two of the final series of the year. First pitch against the Titans is scheduled for 6 p.m.