Reports From LBSU

The Dirtbags continued their hot hitting on Friday night, tying a season-high with 19 hits as Long Beach State cruised past UCSB by a 12-1 margin. The 49ers were led by Jonathan Jones, who was 4-for-5 and a homer shy of the cycle.

Long Beach State scored in each of the first five innings, chasing UC Santa Barbara starter Mario Hollands after just 3.1 innings after allowing 10 earned runs in 15 hits. Jones set a season high with four runs scored on the day, while TJ Mittelstaedt and Steve Tinoco each had three RBI for the Dirtbags, as six players had more than one hit and everyone in the starting lineup picked up at least one on Friday.

Defensively, the Dirtbags got another solid start from sophomore Andrew Gagnon, who struck out six over seven innings, while allowing just the lone run.

The fireworks started immediately for Long Beach State in the first. Brennan Metzger started the first with a single to extend his hitting streak, and after a single by Devin Lohman, Metzger would score to get The Beach on the board. Two more runs would score on a bases loaded double from Tinoco to give the Dirtbags a 3-0 lead.

Leadoff doubles in the second and third innings led to two more runs for Long Beach State, and the Dirtbags really broke the game open for good in the next inning.

Kirk Singer hit his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to begin the fourth, and Joey Terdoslavich followed with a base hit prior to a triple from Jones to make the score 7-0. Three more singles would follow as the Dirtbags had five straight hits off of Hollands to take a 10-0 lead before the fifth inning. 

The Gauchos lone run came in the sixth inning when Sean Williams singled to lead off the inning. After a walk, and RBI single by Marty Mullins got UCSB on the board. The Dirtbags added another run in the eighth inning to account for the final total.

The teams return to Blair Field for game two tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.