Report by LBSU
Long Beach State had 14 hits, including four in the ninth inning to complete a five run comeback to tie the game, but UC Riverside scored one more in the bottom of the ninth to win 8-7 Friday night. Kirk Singer was 5-for-5 with a double, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base to lead the Dirtbags.
A leadoff double in the second inning by TJ Mittlestaedt helped the Dirtbags take their first lead. Jonathan Jones and Jordan Casas pushed across the run with a sacrifice hit and fly respectively in a showcase of small ball to give the Dirtbags a 1-0 lead. The Highlanders used the opposite in the bottom half of the inning, as Rob Brantley picked up the first home run of the day for UCR, a solo shot to tie the game at 1-1.
Long Beach State added another run in the fifth inning with singles from Kellen Hoime and Singer, but again, it took just one swing with another solo home run by UC Riverside to tie the game at two in the sixth inning.
That was just the beginning of the trouble in the sixth. Andrew Gagnon retired the next two batters, but another home run gave the Highlanders the lead, and then three walks combined with two-RBI singles by Bryan Host and Brian McConkey brought home four additional runs to give UC Riverside a 7-2 lead.
Singer’s fourth hit started a short rally for the Dirtbags in the eighth, as Devin Lohman and Joey Terdoslavich followed with hits to score a pair of runs in the eighth.
Down 7-4, Jordan Casas picked up the first of four Long Beach State hits in the ninth inning that helped the Dirtbags climb all the way back. Casas stole second base, and then with two outs, Tre Dennis singled to bring home the first run, followed by doubles from Singer and Lohman to tie the game at 7-7.
After Long Beach State extended the game however, UC Riverside scored in the bottom of the ninth to grab the win. Joey Gonzales hit a leadoff triple in the bottom of the ninth, and after a pair of intentional walks to set up a force play, Justin Shults lined a ball to the outfield to end the game as the Dirtbags lost their second walkoff game of the year.
Long Beach State returns to the Riverside Sports Complex Saturday for the second of three games with UC Riverside. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.