After the ninth inning yesterday, it was poetic justice that the Dirtbags would win by one to salvage the final game of the series.
TJ Mittelstaedt was two-for-three with a double and triple and scored the game-winning run for Long Beach State as the Dirtbags completed a 6-5 comeback win over Washington State on Sunday.
Washington State put three on the board in the top of the first. Patrick Claussen and Shea Vucinich started off the game with consecutive singles. Following a sacrifice fly, a two-run single by Alex Burg put the Cougars ahead 3-0. The Cougars added a fourth run in the third inning after a second sacrifice fly.
Long Beach State got on the board in the bottom half of the third inning. Steve Tinoco started the rally with a single, and that was followed by another hit from Kellen Hoime, dropping a ball into left-field just in front of a sliding Claussen. Jonathan Jones singled in a run, and TJ Mittelstaedt added two more with a double into right field.
A third sacrifice fly would provide Washington State with a two-run lead in the sixth, but Long Beach State would answer again in the bottom half of the inning. Rylan Sandoval walked to start a two-out rally, Brennan Metzger singled to put two runners on, and then Mittelstaedt doubled to score both runs tying the game at five.
From there, Charlie Ruiz continued the theme of comeback nights. Turning again to the junior closer one inning early in the eighth, Ruiz entered the game with two runners on a no outs. One wild pitch later, the Cougars had two runners in scoring position, but Ruiz and catcher Kellen Hoime combined to corral Ruiz’ splitter, getting an infield groundout and two strikeouts to end the inning and keep the game tied.
In the bottom half of the inning, Long Beach State would take the lead for the first time. Mittelstaedt started off the inning with his third triple of the year, and two batters later Rylan Sandoval drove home Mittelstaedt with a single to right field in what would be the winning run.
Dustin Rasco entered the game and pitched a scoreless ninth to collect his first save of the season.
Long Beach State stays at home for one more game before hitting the road again. The Dirtbags host LMU on Tuesday at 6:30pm, before traveling to Wichita State for a three-game series with the Shockers. Blair Field will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, providing green beer, $2 hot dogs and corned beef sandwiches for the game
Report By LBSU