5
Winner Long Beach State LBSU 25-13
2
UC Irvine UCI 14-23
Winner
Long Beach State LBSU
25-13
5
Final
2
UC Irvine UCI
14-23
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Long Beach State LBSU 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 5 11 1
UC Irvine UCI 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 8 3

W: Dave Smith (4-1) L: Bocko, Jordan (0-4) S: Chris Rivera (5)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Late Charge Thwarted as 'Eaters Swept by No. 12 LBSU, 5-2

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine scored late and threatened a comeback, but 12th-ranked Long Beach State held them off to take series sweep, 5-2, Sunday afternoon in Anteater Ballpark.

LBSU (25-13, 10-2) got to work early with a three-run third inning thanks to three straight two-out singles to jump out to the 3-0 lead. The Dirtbags added a couple more two-out runs as Jordan Bocko's sixth-inning balk to plate one, and LBSU beat out a double play ball in the eight to extend the lead to 5-0 for the Dirtbags.

The 'Eaters strung together a few hits in the eighth as Adrian Damla doubled and later scored on a fielder's choice, and mighty cleanup hitter, Ryan Johnston, busted his second hit of the game, this time scoring Evan Cassolato with two outs to close the gap to 5-2. Parker Coss' popout with runners on second and third would shut down the rally.

UCI had some movement on the bases to start the ninth thanks to a Mikey Filia single, but pair of unfortunate hops and a game-ending bunt attempt for a base hit locked the series up for LBSU.

The offense was fueled by freshmen as Damla, Johnston, and Filia all enjoyed two-hit days, and for Filia it was the first two hits of his career. Johnston had one of the two RBI while Cassolato had the other and scored a run. Jordan Bocko went six innings allowing four runs, just two earned, and was saddled with the loss despite a career high and program high for 2017 with 112 pitches.

Dave Smith needed 97 pitches for his win lasting 7.1 innings with no walks and two earned runs allowed. Chris Rivera helped clean things up picking up his fifth save. All nine Dirtbag starters had a hit while five scored runs and four drove one in. Luke Rasmussen and David Banuelos each had multi-hit days, and Rasmussen added a run and RBI.

The series marks the first time a Big West school has come into Anteater Ballpark ranked and left with a sweep. UCI drops down to 2-7 in Big West play and 14-23 overall with a midweek trip to San Diego coming on Tuesday before a drive up to No. 8 Cal State Fullerton next weekend.

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