Report by LBSU

Branden Pinder struck out a career-high six batters and threw seven scoreless innings, but a late error cost the Dirtbags in a 2-1 loss in the bottom of the ninth.

Pinder was strong from the start in his best outing of the season, allowing no runs through seven and helping Long Beach State take a 1-0 lead while working through a number of jams, helped by two inning-ending double plays from Derek Legg and Kirk Singer to get through the later innings.

It was Long Beach State who struck first, as Steve Tinoco led off the second with a single and moved to second when the ball was misplayed by UNLV right-fielder Cash Thomas. TJ Mittlestaedt then followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Tinoco. Mittelstaedt and Dennis were both caught trying to steal in the inning though, and the Dirtbags put up just the one run.

From there, Pinder’s effort was matched by UNLV’s starting pitcher Matt Hutchinson. A converted closer making his first start, Hutchinson pitched eight innings and allowed just that one run while also striking out seven.

Dirtbags closer David Brown picked up the last out of the eighth-inning, but after retiring the first batter in the ninth, he hit Nolan Clark and walked RJ Arnold to put two runners on. Richie Jimenez singled to load the bases, and Cash Thomas singled one more time to tie the game. The Dirtbags cut down Arnold at the plate to keep the game going, but after a wild pitch moved Jimenez to third, an error by Legg on a grounder to second ended the game as Jimenez came home on the play.

Long Beach State returns home for one midweek game this week, hosting Hawaii on Wednesday night before travelling to Oregon State for the team’s final series before conference play begins.