Reports From LBSU
Joey Terdoslavich’s pinch-hit single in the eighth inning put the Dirtbags ahead, and a key pickoff in the ninth helped seal a 4-3 win over San Diego State Tuesday. Devin Lohman was 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead the Dirtbag offense.
Leading 4-3 in the ninth inning, a leadoff walk put Long Beach State in some danger, but after a sacrifice bunt, a pickoff throw from closer David Brown to Derek Legg caught Brandon Decker off second base, and the Dirtbags closed out the contest to snag their first weekday victory.
Long Beach State had an answer for the Aztecs all evening long it seemed. After an unearned run in the first inning got San Diego State on the board, Long Beach State tied up the game in the third inning. Kirk Singerstarted off the frame with a single and after being advanced on a groundout, came home to score on a Lohman single to even the score at 1-1.
The Aztecs regained the lead in the top of the fifth after Jomel Torres walked and scored on a double from Corey Vaughn. Long Beach State returned fire in the bottom half of the inning, when Lohman doubled off the wall in left center, scoring Jonathan Jones and Joel Thys to give the Dirtbags their first lead at 3-2.
Vaughn reached base again in the eighth after a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Matt Parker, but again Long Beach State managed to rally back.
TJ Mittelstaedt led off the bottom of the eighth by drawing a walk, and after being advanced over by Legg with a sacrifice bunt, Terdoslavich came in as a pinch-hitter and singled to right, scoring the go-ahead run for the Dirtbags.
On the mound, the Dirtbags used six pitchers with freshman Nate Underwoodrecording the win. Underwood threw three innings, the most in the game for the Dirtbags and allowed two hits while striking out three. Brown earned his first save of the year, converting in part due to the excellent pickoff throw to get the second out in the ninth.
Long Beach State finishes an extended homestand this weekend with a three-game set with Wichita State. The first game with the Shockers is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on March 12.