7:34am | Long Beach State scored three runs in the top of the fourth, two coming on a suicide-squeeze bunt by Brennan Metzger, as the Dirtbags held off Loyola Marymount University at Page Field 3-2 on Tuesday.

The game found Metzger and Jonathan Kim each going 2-for-3 for Long Beach State.

LMU struck first with a solo home run in the first inning on a solo home run from Matt Koch. The Dirtbags would answer back with a trio of runs in the fourth 

Mike Marjama started the inning by drawing a walk and moved over to third with a wild pitch and a sacrifice, scoring on an RBI single by Kim. The Dirtbags then continued to work with small ball, as Michael Hill singled and Royce Murai beat out a bunt to load the bases.

Metzger then dropped down a perfect suicide squeeze down the third base line, bringing home Kim, and on an overthrow of first while trying to get Metzger, Hill was able to come around to give the Dirtbags a 3-1 lead.

Both bullpens had strong outings from there on out, as junior Matt Johnson took over for the Dirtbags, working 4.1 innings to pick up his first win of the year, while the Lions turned to a pair of pitchers that held Long Beach State scoreless the rest of the way.  

LMU added a run in the ninth inning, picking up a run as Matt Lowenstein beat out a game-ending double-play by a step to score a runner from third, but Eddie Magallon induced a popup for the third out to record his fourth save of the season.

Metzger reached in the seventh inning via hit-by-pitch, the 32nd beaning of his career, moving him into a tie for fifth place in the Long Beach State record books.

Long Beach State remains on the road this weekend, playing a three-game set starting Friday against Standford at the Sunken Diamond.