Report by LBSU

Trailing 2-1 late in the contest, it was time for another big eighth inning for the Dirtbags as Long Beach State scored seven runs leading to an 8-2 win Saturday. TJ Mittelstaedt came away with the big hit for Long Beach State, a bases-clearing double to give the Dirtbags the lead.

For the second day in a row, it was Pacific that grabbed an early lead. Mike Walker singled to start second inning, and after a passed ball, he came around to score on an RBI single by Matthew Carvutto to give the Tigers the lead. Pacific added another run in the third inning to take a 2-0 lead on a single by Brett Christopher.

Long Beach State limited the damage with a season-high three double plays on the day, giving the team seven for the series as Long Beach State kept the Tigers off the road after the third inning. Starter Branden Pinder pitched 7.1 innings on the day, allowing nine hits but surrendering just the one earned run while striking out three.

In the sixth, Long Beach State picked up its first run. Kirk Singer singled to start the inning, and after a walk to Devin Lohman, Singer would score on an RBI by Steve Tinoco to cut the Tiger lead in half 2-1.

The Dirtbag comeback began in earnest in the eighth inning once again. With the top of the order at bat, Brennan Metzger reached on catcher’s interference, and was pushed over by Singer for the first out. A fielder’s choice erased the runner, but a single by Joey Terdoslavich and a walk loaded the bases for Mittelstaedt, who doubled over the head of the Pacific center-fielder Christopher to score all three runs and give Long Beach State its first lead of the game.

With the floodgates opened, the Dirtbags would bat around in the inning, eventually scoring seven runs on seven hits to take an 8-2 lead.

Jason Markovitz, who had entered the game in relief in the eighth inning, retired the side in order in the ninth to pick up his first win of the season as the Dirtbags took their fourth consecutive series and fifth of the season.

Long Beach State continues Big West play this weekend on the road at UC Davis, and then returns to Blair Field on Tuesday, April 13 for a 6:30 p.m. start.