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Long Beach State Dirtbags coach TJ Bruce declined a full postgame interview after his team fell to USC 12-2 on Tuesday night on Bohl Diamond at Blair Field, but did say one thing that pretty accurately summed up this season so far.
“We’re not good.”
The Dirtbags (15-22) could only muster four hits in the loss while 10 different Long Beach State pitchers shared the duties on the mound and gave up 13 hits and eight walks.
USC (26-14) scored five times in the fourth inning and five times in the ninth. Third baseman Ethan Hedges leads the Trojans in almost all offensive categories and was the only player with three hits. Right fielder Jack Basseer hit a home run in the seventh for the Trojans while Grant Govel got the win and the start on the mound for USC.
Third baseman Jake Evans was the only Dirtbag with two hits and Luke Taylor was the only one with an RBI after he drove in Kyle Ashworth as part of a two-run fourth inning. LBSU left eight runners on base.
The Dirtbags have struggled with consistency and had a very inexperienced lineup on Tuesday night as the season comes to an end. Six players entered the game with fewer than 72 at-bats this season, and four of them have a batting average under .200 and only 32 combined runs scored.
LBSU hosts Cal State Northridge for a conference series this weekend.
