REPORTS FROM LONG BEACH STATE
Sunday’s series finale between Long Beach State (8-12) and Tulane (9-12) looked nothing like the first two games of the series, but that was just fine for the Dirtbags who came away with a 1-0 victory to win their first series of the 2018 season. A day after allowing 16 hits to the Green Wave, the Dirtbags pitchers kept Tulane’s bats quiet, allowing only a single in the first inning.
Junior Tyler Radcliffe was terrific, making his best start as a Dirtbag. The Long Beach native threw a career-best 7.0 scoreless innings, striking out six. He did issue a pair of walks and hit two batters, but limited the damage by allowing just the one hit. He had a bases loaded jam in the third inning, but was able to come up with a strikeout to dance out of trouble. Radcliffe only allowed one more baserunner the rest of his outing, and he finished his day by retiring the final 11 batters he faced.
LBSU Dirtbags on Twitter
Hear from today’s starting pitcher, Long Beach native Tyler Radcliffe, who had his best start as a Dirtbag (7IP, H, 0R, 6K) less than 2 days after getting hit by a line drive on his pitching hand. #GoBeach https://t.co/fuFRYWP7V4
The Dirtbags took the lead in the fourth inning thanks to a two-out rally. Brooks Stotler hit a single to the opposite field, stole second, then a few pitches later took third without a throw as he caught the Green Wave napping defensively. Senior DH Laine Huffman would deliver the two-out RBI with a single to center field, providing the only offense of the day. Stotler was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk on the afternoon, in addition to his run scored.
LBSU Dirtbags on Twitter
Here’s Laine Huffman’s RBI single in the 4th inning to put the Dirtbags up 1-0! #GoBeach https://t.co/hpzRheVe9z
Chris Rivera recorded his fifth save of the season, needing five outs to get it. He entered with runners on first and second and one out in the eighth inning, then promptly struck out the No. 2 and 3 hitters in the Tulane lineup. Then a 1-2-3 ninth inning secured the victory for Long Beach State in its final non-conference home series of the season.
LBSU will now hit the road for a midweek contest on Tuesday night at Loyola Marymount. Next weekend, the Dirtbags will visit rivals Cal State Fullerton for a three-game non-conference set behind the orange curtain. Long Beach State’s next home game will be Tuesday, Mar. 27 against San Diego State.
