The562’s coverage of Dirtbags Baseball for the 2023 season is sponsored by P2S, Inc. Visit p2sinc.com to learn more.
The Long Beach State Dirtbags are trying to finish off a perfect five-game homestead and extend their eight-game winning streak when No. 22 UCLA comes to Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
These proximity rivals are headed in opposite directions.
LBSU and UCLA have identical 18-8 overall records after the Dirtbags finished off last weekend with consecutive walk-off wins and the Bruins lost their seventh consecutive game.
UCLA is sending Michael Barnett to the mound while LBSU turns to sophomore righty Grant Cherry and the rest of the bullpen where LBSU coach Eric Valenzuela is still figuring out roles and responsibility for some young arms.
Despite not having that veteran stability, the new Dirtbags arms have produced well overall as a Top 50 group in the NCAA. The staff rank 15th in the nation with three shutouts and a 3.01 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 3.37 walks per nine is ranked 22nd best, 4.26 ERA is 33rd, 1.34 WHIP is 39th, and 10.1 K/9 is 43rd.
Speaking of ranking nationally, the Dirtbags’ 33 home runs this season ranks eighth in the NCAA. First baseman Jonathon Long has a team-high seven home runs after hitting four (two walkoffs) last week. He’s second in the Big West.
UCLA also has some notable statistics with a 3.45 team ERA that’s 14th in the nation. The Bruins offense is slashing .261/.390/.426 while averaging just shy of seven runs per game.
The Dirtbags winning streak is their longest since 2017, and the longest in program history in 15 in 1989 when the Dirtbags made their first ever College World Series.
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FEATURE: Student intern David Kagurabadza takes a closer look at the process and responsibility behind reading each graduate's name on graduation day for Long Beach Poly.
FEATURE: The Responsibility of Reading Names on Graduation Day
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Evans. The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is ...
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STORY: Long Beach Poly looking for next baseball coach after Williams' departure
Long Beach Poly Hiring Baseball Coach Following Williams’ Departure
Lakewood just hired a new baseball coach in alum Anthony Razo, and it appears that he won’t be the only new ...
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FEATURE: Natalie Lopez, Millikan alumna, won a NCAA D3 softball championship with the University of Redlands earlier this month. The junior was 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI in the championship-clinching game.
FEATURE: Millikan Softball Alumna Wins DIII National Championship
The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law. Mi...
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5🌟 @qualigiran2029 was locked in at @Section7Az averaging 39 points per game!
IT'S HERE! 🎉 Click the link below to see the winners of our second annual Student Photo Contest for the 2025–26 school year. Congratulations to all of this year's winners and thank you to everyone who submitted their work and participated!
The562 Reveals Winners of 2nd Annual Student Photo Competition
After another compelling competition between some of the best young photographers in Long Beach, The562 is thrilled ...
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FEATURE: Avalon senior Erick Madriz recently capped one of the most impressive athletic careers in school history, becoming Avalon's first ever boys' Western Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year.
Read about his story here:
FEATURE: Avalon’s Erick Madriz Named Conference Athlete of the Year, Finishes Impressive Tri-Sport...
The562’s coverage of Avalon Athletics is sponsored by Curtin Maritime. Erick Madriz is a man of few words. Rathe...
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STORY: The Long Beach Coast added a new milestone on Sunday as it competed in its first knockout round.
However, the Coast lost in knockout round 3 to fall to Modesto to wrap up their 12-game homestand with a 10-2 record.
Long Beach Coast Drop Series Finale Against Modesto In Club's First Knockout Round
The Long Beach Coast wrapped up their house-warming homestand Sunday afternoon, concluding a six-game series against t...
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FINAL: Modesto wins it in the third knockout round.
Bryce Cannon hits three for the Roadsters and in the Coast’s final attempt Matthew Bardowell hits one.
The Coast go 10-2 in their 12-game homestand.
Modesto’s Bryce Cannon hits three homers in KO Round 3.
Matthew Bardowell needs four to win it.
We head to KO Round 3! Both teams searching for their first HR
Liniak doesn’t do it, Emilio Corona will try to win it for the Coast
We head to KO Round 2!
Neither team gets a home run. Modesto sends up Kingston Liniak
Modesto doesn’t hit any, Long Beach’s Cuba Bess will head to plate for the Coast.
He needs one homer to win the game
Modesto selects Osiris Johnson to hit first
