Report by LBSU
Down two runs with two outs in the ninth, Kirk Singer extended the game with a single and Joey Terdoslavich doubled to tie the score, forcing Long Beach State’s first extra-inning game of the year. Jordan Casas then started the tenth inning with a solo home run, sparking a three-run inning to lead the Dirtbags past San Diego State 11-8.
The Dirtbags finished the game with 11 extra-base hits, including a season-high three triples to help escape a mid-game stumble. Devin Lohman and Terdoslavich each had three hits to lead Long Beach State.
Long Beach State got out to a quick start in the first inning. Brennan Metzger started off the game with a chopper that third baseman Chris Wilson was unable to handle, putting a runner on, and Lohman and Terdoslavich hit back-to-back doubles to give the Dirtbags a 2-0 lead.
San Diego State scored a run off of a leadoff walk in the first, but that would be starter Eddie Magallon’s lone run, as the freshman allowed just one hit over four innings of work. That would help pace the Dirtbags to a 4-1 lead after four innings as the Aztecs brought out a succession of pitchers.
The Aztecs began to climb back into the game in the fifth inning, however, picking up a couple of runs to cut the 49er lead to one after the Dirtbags turned to their second pitcher as determined prior to the game. Nate Underwood came in to close out the fifth inning after a pair of runs came in.
Jones doubled and scored in the sixth inning to get the Dirtbags back out to a 5-3 lead, but San Diego State scored two after back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the sixth from Mitch Blackburn and Brandon Meredith. Blackburn and Meredith came back to haunt Long Beach State one more time in the bottom of the seventh, with a walk and a single to set up a two-run double by Blair Moore that put San Diego State in the lead 8-5.
A leadoff walk led to a Dirtbag run in the eighth inning, but Long Beach State still trailed 8-6 starting the ninth, where Ryan Wynveen quickly picked up two outs. Singer worked the count full and singled through the right side, and San Diego State answered by bringing in their closer John Pecoraro. Pecoraro struggled through, walking Lohman on four pitches and then leaving a pitch that Terdoslavich drove to the warning track, scoring both Singer and Lohman to tie the game.
Jason Markovitz countered a pair of walks with two striketouts to keep the Aztecs scoreless in the ninth, and Casas proved to be the catalyst in the top of the tenth, starting the inning by cracking a homer to right field. Kellen Hoime walked to put a runner on for Metzger, who doubled to score a second run, and Lohman followed with his third hit of the day to put The Beach on top 11-8.
Markovitz retired the side in order in the bottom of the tenth to collect his second win of the year, while Pecoraro took the loss for San Diego State.
Long Beach State continues Big West play as well as the current road trip this weekend, traveling to Cal Poly for a three-game set with the Mustangs. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m., with two more games following at 6 and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.