Story By Long Beach State Sports Information Dept.

Taylor Krick’s three-run homer in the eighth inning brought Long Beach State within two, but the Dirtbags were unable to climb out of a five-run hole in a 5-3 loss on opening day.

The Dirtbags started the game by getting the leadoff runner on in the first five innings, but that was all the damage Long Beach State would muster against USC starter Brad Boxberger. Boxberger allowed six walks in his six innings, but only allowed one hit and struck out 11 on the way to six scoreless innings.

Long Beach State had its best chance in the first inning against Boxberger, as Tre Dennis drew a leadoff walk, and then a double-error by third baseman Billy Pinkerton gave Long Beach State runners on the corners. Jordan Casas would steal second to give The Beach two runners in scoring position with one out. Boxberger would pick up two strikeouts to close out the inning and hold the Dirtbags scoreless.

The Dirtbags got out of a tough jam behind the glove of Rylan Sandoval. A leadoff double from Robert Stock kick-started a rally that would load the bases for the Trojans, but Sandoval would make a throw to get a force out at home for the first out, and then started a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.

USC finally got on the board in the bottom of the third, as Mike O’Neill led off the inning with a single, and then Hector Rabago doubled to bring home O’Neill. The Beach avoided further damage in the inning.

The Trojans broke the game open with two runs in the fourth, as two leadoff walks from Tyler Topp would hurt the team after a bloop single from Billy Pinkerton brought home both runners to give Boxberger the cushion that he needed.

Two insurance runs in the sixth and seventh, one coming from a homerun from Anthony Vasquez would prove to be the difference as Long Beach State rallied in the eighth. Jordan Casas and Jonathan Jones started the inning with consecutive singles, and then with two outs, Krick deposited Danny Coulombe’s offering deep into left-center. Stock moved to the mound for the ninth, however, and finished off the game with his first save of the year, holding off the Dirtbag rally.

Long Beach State and the Trojans face off again Saturday, this time at Blair Field as the Dirtbags host the 2009 home opener. Sandra Bullock will toss the first pitch, as The Beach tries to even up the series starting at 5 p.m. on February 21.