Long Beach State has been so close this year.  They’ve had leads, only to relinquish them.  They’ve come back from multiple runs down, only to fall short in the end.  Then sometimes, they’re just never in it.  Like Vin Scully always says, “the slings and arrows.”

The Dirtbags got hit on Tuesday and couldn’t get started against a strong pitching performance from UCLA, falling 15-2 in the team’s final midweek contest. John Hill had two hits for the Dirtbags.

Garrett Claypool pitched 4.1 for UCLA, striking out a career-trying eight batters while giving up seven hits and two runs. Rob Rasmussen earned the win for UCLA in relief.

UCLA got started in the second inning, getting two runs on three hits. Justin Uribe started the inning with a single, and after a second hit, a third straight single by Chris Giovanazzo scored the first run in the inning. Another run would come home on a double-play ball with the bases loaded as UCLA took a 2-0 lead.

The Dirtbags battled right back, scoring in the top of the third. Derek Legg reached on a one-out single, and then Devin Lohman doubled to get Long Beach State on the board.

The Bruins extended their lead in the third inning, taking advantage of some wildness from the Long Beach State pitching. After a leadoff single, starter Josh Corrales collected an out but walked two batters, leading to a pitching change. Anthony Carrillo then walked his first batter with the bases loaded, scoring a run, and a double by Giovanazzo ended up scoring three runs for a 6-1 UCLA lead.

UCLA scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth after a single by Justin Uribe rolled under Tre Dennis’ glove with the bases loaded, going to the wall and clearing the bases. Long Beach State pulled back an addition run in the fifth, loading the bases prior to a sacrifice fly by TJ Mittelstaedt, making the score 9-2.

Three more Bruin runs came across in the fifth, two scoring on an RBI single by Casey Haerther and another off of a single by Uribe, part of four straight hits for UCLA in the inning as the Bruins took a 12-2 lead.

Steve Rodriguez hit a three-run homer in the ninth to account for the final score.

The Dirtbags have been hit hard by injuries of late, and started Tuesday’s contest with just 11 position players available, including only three outfielders.

Long Beach State returns to Blair Field for the Dirtbags’ final home series of the year this weekend, hosing Cal Poly for a three game set. The first game will be held Friday, May 15 and is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.