The Long Beach State Dirtbags put together their best weekend performance of the season at Cal State Fullerton in nonconference action to win their second consecutive series. It is the first time LBSU (10-14) has won three straight road series at Fullerton since 1997-2000.
The Dirtbags took the series with a 2-1 win on Sunday. Junior Clayton Andrews pitched into the eighth inning and delivered the game-winning two-run triple in the eighth.
“We really competed on both sides of the ball,” LBSU coach Troy Buckley said. “But (Andrews) led us to a couple victories this weekend that’s for sure.”
Andrews allowed six hits and struck out six on Sunday while racking up five hits, three RBIs, a pair of walks and three runs scored in the three games. He was named the Big West Athlete of the Week.
“This rivalry is somethings we’re always excited to be a part of,” Andrews said. “They hate us. We hate them. This win is huge for us. Anything I can do to help the team win I’ll do it, gladly.”
Andrews wasn’t the only Dirtbag to receive a conference award. Sophomore starter Zak Baayoun pitched a career high eight innings in the 5-2 victory on Friday night, and he was named Big West Pitcher of the Week. After Fullerton scored in the first tinning, the left-hander retired 10 in a row. The Titans scored again in the fifth, and again Baayoun responded by retiring the next 10 batters. He gave up three hits.
LBSU catcher Chris Jimenez drove in two runs, and first baseman Leonard Jones was the only Dirtbag with multiple hits off of Fullerton starter Colton Eastman. LBSU stranded 11 runners on base and committed a few costly errors in a 2-1 loss on Saturday.
The Dirtbags host No. 23 San Diego State Tuesday (6 p.m.) at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.
Softball
Freshman Naomi Hernandez tied a school record with five hits in the first game of a doubleheader at Loyola Marymount on Saturday, and then No. 22 LBSU (26-7) won a seventh consecutive game by sweeping the Lions with an extra-inning victory. It was the last day of nonconference play for LBSU.
The 49ers cruised to a 10-0 win in the first game while the five hits from Hernandez tied the school record set back in 2007 by Associate Head Coach Panita Thanatharn. Meanwhile, Cielo Meza pitched her sixth shutout of the season for her 14th win. The sophomore allowed just two hits and struck out seven.
LMU took an early lead in game two, but Taylor Rowland drove in two runs with two hits to tie the game. The sophomore finished game two with two singles, a double and a home run. Senior Lauren MacLeod drove in the game-winning run in the ninth inning. Sophomore Devyn Magnett came on to close out the game, and earned her third save of the year.
Beach Volleyball
The No. 5 49ers (11-1) only dropped one game in four matches last week. After beating NO. 19 Washington on a raining morning last week, LBSU swept Vanguard, Nebraska and Concordia to win a ninth consecutive match. The team of Nele Barber and Rachel Nieto went 4-0 on the week, including three wins in the top flight.
Women’s Tennis
LBSU (7-6, 2-1) edged Dartmouth 4-3 last weekend, and senior Lena Pacholski won both her doubles and singles competitions. Pacholski’s 6-3, 6-0 singles win over Dartmouth’s Kristina Mathis came in convincing fashion, and it also came just three days after Mathis earned a victory over the No. 25 ranked player in the nation.
Track & Field
LBSU had seven Top 3 finishes last weekend at the Spring Break at UC Riverside. Junior John Broadhead finished second in the men’s heptathlon, and junior Bria Palmer won the women’s high jump for the third time in as many tries this season.
Women’s Water Polo
The No. 14 49ers (9-11) was unable to comeback in a 9-4 loss at No. 4 UCLA last weekend. Junior Tori Morrissey scored twice for the 49ers.
