Reports From LBSU

The Dirtbags step away from conference play this weekend, as Long Beach State plays Pepperdine for the second time this season on Wednesday, and then hosts Stanford for a three-game non-conference series. With the Big West being a nine-team league, each squad gets a “bye” week while the other eight teams play each other, and this is the week for the Dirtbags. The week starts at 3 p.m. Wednesday, for an afternoon game against the Waves, and then The Beach changes the regular times at Blair Field, with the Friday game starting at 6:30 as usual, but Saturday’s contest will be held at 2 p.m. The series with the contest then closes with a 1 p.m. Sunday start. All four games will be covered via Gametracker and live audio at www.longbeachstate.com.

Mustang Roundup 
Long Beach State’s hot streak continued with a game Friday against Cal Poly, as the Dirtbags had 19 hits in a 12-8 win, but a late-inning rally by the Mustangs in that game seemed to carry over for the rest of the weekend. The Mustangs scored eight earned runs the next night in an 8-4 win over Long Beach State, and then in a wild 11-inning affair on Sunday, the Dirtbags took four multiple-run leads, but Cal Poly eventually won after a walk-off error 16-15.

Making The Most Of The Middle 
The middle infield has been a source of success for Long Beach State in 2010, as Devin Lohman and Kirk Singer continue to lead the team in batting average. Lohman, the team’s starting shortstop since the beginning of the year, ranks third in the conference in batting average at .420 and is the team’s leader in both walks and doubles to take a commanding lead in OBP and OPS, ranking second in the Big West in On-Base Percentage. Joined by sophomore Kirk Singer on the other side, Singer started the season as the team’s backup shortstop, but was moved to second base after forcing his way into the starting lineup. Singer is currently hitting .337 and is second on the team with four home runs on the year.

Scouting Pepperdine 
Pepperdine, Long Beach State’s opening night opponent, started off the season ranked but has had a tough season so far in the season with a 13-22 overall record. The Waves have been much better at home however, where Wednesday’s game will be played with an 8-7 record at Eddy Field. The game is part of a long stretch for Pepperdine, game two of six games in six days for the Waves, who then play five in the following week. Matt Bywater has been the most successful pitcher for the Waves with 2.48 ERA, and Ryan Heroy continues to anchor the linuep with a .305 batting average over 32 games played.

Scouting Stanford 
Stanford’s up-and-down season continued last week, as after the Cardinal had reeled off eight straight games, sweeping Oregon State and California and returning to the Top 25, but then lost four straight with a midweek game to Santa Clara before three to Washington in Seattle. Overall, the Cardinal come in with a 21-17 record and are 10-8 in Pac-10 play, and are led offensively by Jonathan Kaskow who is hitting .424 in 32 games played, while Colin Walsh leads the team in power numbers with 11 doubles and five home runs on the year. Stanford leads the all-time series with Long Beach State 8-4, with the Cardinal taking the last meeting between the teams back in 2008.

TJ And Triples 
Senior right fielder TJ Mittelstaedt broke his first school record against UNLV, hitting two triples to get to 17 in his career and pass Don Anderson’s 16 for the most in Long Beach State history with half the season to go. TJ hit another against Cal Poly to reach 18 in his career, and leads the team with five on the year. Mittelstaedt also currently ranks third in career walks with 97 after passing Lamarr Rogers. Next he’s looking towards a couple early Dirtbags, including the leader, Jason Giambi, who had 116 over three years. Mittelstaedt also continues to climb in games played, and should be among the all-time leaders for Long Beach State before the year is out.