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The Long Beach State Dirtbags couldn’t overcome lackluster pitching and self-inflicted wounds on both the offensive and defensive end, losing 11-4 to UC Riverside at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field Sunday. This loss wraps up a three-game series loss to UC Riverside, with the Dirtbags winning just one. This was also UCR’s first series win against the Dirtbags in Long Beach since 2007.
“Today you had a combination of an offense that wasn’t very good and a pitching staff that couldn’t fill up the zone,” said Dirtbags coach Bryan Peters. “Too many self-inflicted wounds, the amount of free bases that we gave up between walks and hits by pitches, it’s just a formula for losing.”
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UC Riverside fed on the Dirtbags pitchers all afternoon, recording 15 hits and forcing the Dirtbags to go deep into their bullpen, using six different relievers. Nick Willams got the start for the Dirtbags and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits along with 2 strikeouts. However, it was the bullpen that struggled the most, particularly with their command, walking seven UCR batters in total and also hitting 5 UCR batters, with one HBP scoring a run.
It was an especially frustrating day for Dirtbags pitcher CJ Hood, as he walked five batters including four consecutively in the top of the 4th inning that essentially gifted UCR two runs. However, as Hood disappointedly walked off the mound, his entire team left the dugout and made sure to hive-five him and encouraged Hood to keep his head up, a testament to the team chemistry the Dirtbags have built throughout the seasons’ ups and downs.
“We need to figure out how to throw more strikes, regardless of what role you’re in, starter, middle relief, closer, late game, whatever you have to be able to throw more strikes,” said Peters.
These walks led to unwanted traffic on the bases for the Dirtbags, and UCR took advantage of their runners in scoring position particularly in the 5th and 6th innings, with UCR recording an RBI double and single in the 5th and back-to-back RBI singles in the 6th. This widened the gap for UCR as they reached 11 runs in the 6th inning.
Offensively, the Dirtbags’ strongest performances came from Kyle Ashworth, who recorded two hits and was driven home on an RBI groundout from Connor Charpiot in the 1st. Nick Marinconz also mashed his second home run of the year in the bottom of the 5th, while Charpiot also extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the same inning. The Dirtbags other two runs came on a sac fly from Alex Champagne and an error from UCR catcher Nick Poss attempting to catch a runner stealing 2nd.
“We’re left questioning, was our offense not good because our pitching staff sucked the life out of us by not being able to throw strikes?” asked Peters. “Just being bad on the mound and bad offensively, it’s obviously not an ideal combination.”
The Dirtbags will look to bounce back when they travel to face California Baptist Tuesday night at home.
“We’ve got to command our fastballs better and our offense has to be able to be much better at not making the same mistakes,” said Peters.
