6:15pm | Kirk Singer’s two-run double in the fourth inning started a rally that put the Dirtbags in front 5-1, enough for Branden Pinder and the bullpen as the Dirtbags held on to win 5-3 against Pacific Saturday during the second game of a three-game series.
The first game of the series — the first series in Big West play — on Friday was a blowout, with the Dirtbags dominating to secure a 20-0 victory.
Branden Pinder earned his first win after allowing two runs over six innings, while Eddie Magallon collected his sixth save of the season.
Long Beach State got out to a quick start for the second night in a row, again scoring in the top of the first. Matt Hibbert beat out a single to the backhand side of third baseman Dustin Torchio, and after advancing on a groundout, beat the throw at home following a single from Mike Marjama as the Dirtbags took a 1-0 lead.
The Dirtbags added another run in the second as Michael Hill cracked a one-out double and scored on an RBI single by fellow freshman Jeff McNeil. Pacific scored following a leadoff triple from Allen Riley, but the damage was limited to a single run as Pinder retired the next three batters. Riley scored on a sacrifice fly.
The big inning for Long Beach State came in the fourth. Ino Patron and Jonathan Kim started the inning with back-to-back singles, and after a sacrifice, Singer’s double scored both runs to put the Dirtbags up 4-1. Long Beach State then loaded the bases, and on a groundout by Matt Hibbert, smart baserunning from McNeil let one more across as he avoided a tag until Singer had crossed the plate.
Pinder had his best outing of the year, throwing six innings and striking out six while allowing just four hits. But the Tigers scored another run in the fifth inning following a leadoff walk. However, Pinder still left with the lead, collecting his first win of the year.
The Tigers added one more run in the bottom of the eighth inning off of Matt Johnson, but Patron corralled a wild throw from Hill to retire Brian Martin and end the inning and the threat. Eddie Magallon gave up a double to Riley in the ninth, but recovered by inducing a groundout and striking out Torchio to pick up his sixth save of the season.
The Dirtbags attempted to secure the team’s first series sweep with its final face-off against Pacific on Sunday, but their efforts were to no avail.
Sophomore Juan Avila had a breakout day Sunday, going 4-for-4 with two home runs and a triple to stake Long Beach State to a 4-2 lead, but three runs in the bottom of the ninth allowed Pacific to steal the final game of the series 5-4.