Uh oh, there Wallach goes

Brett Wallach, son of former CSUF and Dodgers star Tim Wallach got picked 96th overall by the Boys in Blue and most certainly will make the jump from OCC to the Dodgers minor league system and never don the black and gold of The Beach.

The other notable player that was Dirtbag potential was Jonathan Singleton, from Millikan high in the LBC, but the Phillies snatched him up in the 5th round and he looks to make the jump as well. 

Still waiting for the "Long Beach State" to be attached to a 2009 pick.

Wilk and Ruiz make all conference teams, but that's it

Adam Wilk (2nd team) and Charlie Ruiz (honorable mention) were the only Dirtbags to be honored by the Big West Wednesday.

While both deserved recognition it seems that LBSU's poor finish - losing nine of 10 - and falling into a fifth place tie in the conference standings certainly didn't help the cause of any of their offensive players.

Wilk and Ruiz get picked

Entire run-down of Big West selections

Check back for more info on recruits and draft day commentary in the next two weeks.

Dirtbags a victim of their own success

End of the season column about LBSU's players getting drafted and succeeding at the next level. How that is starting to hurt the team in Long Beach and the struggles to recruit with more and more competitive local teams and a lack of funding to improve the team's facilities.

A spirited debate follows!

What's next for the Dirtbags?

Dirtbags swept by CSUF

LBSU was swept but Fullerton and finished their season 25-29.

Been busy with the radio for the games and finals but some closing thoughts, a column and much more soon.

Cal Poly takes two out of three

LBSU managed a dramatic 13-12 come from behind win Saturday against the Mustangs but dropped games Friday night and Sunday afternoon to send them back under the .500 mark with just three games to play.

Season quickly eroding for Dirtbags

Things looked bleak for the 2009 season after a sweep by UCSB over the weekend. A 15-2 drubbing at UCLA Tuesday night only made it worse.

With just three outfielders and leading hitter Steve Tinoco noticeably absent from the line-up the Dirtbags struggled to score and have managed just 15 runs in their last four games (all losses) after winning four in a row and seven of eight to climb a season high four games over . 500 (24-20) back on May 5th. 

The Dirtbags used four starters in the first five innings as UCLA jumped out to a 12-2 lead. 

Josh Corrales (1-2) took the loss giving up five runs in 2 1/3, but Anthony Carrillo (1 IP, 4 runs - 2 earned), Aaron Lambrix (1.1 IP, 3 runs) and Charlie Ruiz later on (1 IP, 3 runs) weren't much better.

Most disturbing is the back-to-back efforts from Ruiz who has been the Dirtbags closer all year and despite some wildness from his nasty spilt-finger pitch has been very effective at the back end of games.

In Sunday's heartbreaking loss Ruiz was charged with the defeat after giving up two walks, a triple and three runs while recording no outs and throwing just two strikes in 13 pitches.

LBSU (24-24) will try and salvage a bit of their season this weekend at home against Cal Poly (33-16, 11-7). Both teams are still battling for second place in the Big West. 

UCLA tonight, injury updates

Just ran into Jonathan Jones on campus...his chin is sore but thankfully he is o.k. after getting plunked in the face while squaring to bunt Sunday.

He hit the ground hard and reiterated our fears in the booth that he thought he may have broken his jaw but fortunately it wasn't that serious.

He will not be making the trip to L.A.

Brennan Metzger is also recovering (after 3 hours in the E.R.) and has a deep bone bruise after getting hit square in the elbow the inning before. I said it on-air at the time but the sound of the ball hitting his elbow was an awful one.

If you had been in the stands and looked away for the pitch you may have assumed he popped up a foul ball somewhere. That was what the "pop" sounded like and I don't think the elbow is built for that.

Jordan Casas, who re-aggravated his ankle injury when his foot caught in the grass on Saturday as he caught a fly ball and tried to throw home, is doing better but remains out.

Even Brandon Young, the sophomore utilityman who would have been a viable outfield option, was sidelined after getting hit with a line drive during BP the day before.

All three of the normal starters (no word on Young) will miss at least tonight's game which presents an interesting outfield situation.

With all three out and Tre Dennis in the DH spot Sunday, first baseman Steve Tinoco went to left where he played last year. 

So that leaves the Dirtbags with three pure outfielders for tonight's game at Jackie Robinson in Dennis, Matt Avery and TJ Mittelstaedt. Tinoco would be the next man to roam the UCLA outfield.

Staff game tonight, LBSU sits just one game over .500 (24-23), the Dirtbags have never finished under the break-even line in the 20-year history of that moniker.

As you may remember they lost to the Bruins in L.A. 7-5 two weeks ago. Haven't received a decent answer as to why both games would be played on their field but that is the case.

18th-ranked Cal Poly will be at Blair this weekend for three.

Dirtbags swept by UCSB in Fullerton

It's a long season that really is a year-round endeavor beginning with summer workouts, going through fall practices and on into the season but for the Dirtbags it may have all come down to about 24 hours in Fullerton and the end result was not very good. 

In a must-win series for both teams involved it was Santa Barbara that rose to the challenge sweeping LBSU in Fullerton to strengthen their NCAA case while seriously damaging the Dirtbags chances for a third straight postseason birth.

At 24-23 overall and 10-8 in conference it will most likely take a 7-0 finish for The Beach to be seriously considered by the selection committee and after the UCLA game tomorrow night the Dirtbags get their final six games against top-20 ranked teams in Cal Poly (18th) and Cal State Fullerton (6th). 

Sweeps over those teams would definitely raise eyebrows but all of the sudden Long Beach State is missing three outfielders - more on that tomorrow - and struggling to swing the bats while giving up plenty of runs to the other side. 

Series recaps ... 

11-9 UCSB Sunday

3-0, 14-4 UCSB (doubleheader) Saturday

Dirtbags and Gauchos PPD due to fires

LBSU/UCSB to play in Fullerton, doubleheader Sat beginning at 2 and series finale Sunday at 1

More info here

Waves no match for The Beach

In another critical game the Dirtbags rose to the occasion tonight at Blair in beating Pepperdine 10-5. 

Seven starters had at least one hit and LBSU scored in six of their eight at-bats en route to their fourth straight win. The Dirtbags have won 13 of their last 16 at home.

They were down 4-3 in the fourth but responded with a run to tie it and then two more in the fifth, sixth and seventh to take over the game.

TJ Mittelstaedt continued to rope the ball going 2-for-3 with 3 RBI's.

Four other LBSU players had two hits and at least one RBI - Jordan Casas (2-for-4, 2 RBI's), Taylor Krick (2-for-3, 2 RBI's) Tre Dennis (2-for-2, RBI) and Steve Tinoco (2-for-4, RBI).

The Dirtbags (24-20) stole five more bases to give them 107 on the season. The school record is 123.

David Brown (2-0) worked a career high 3 2/3 innings for the win. He was one of five Beach pitchers to take the mound on the evening. 

LBSU will be in Santa Barbara this weekend for a big series with the UCSB Gauchos. 

At 10-5 in the Big West the Dirtbags are in a three-way tie for second place with Cal Poly (10-5) and CSUF (12-6), with three weeks to play. 

To spice things up Cal Poly comes to Blair next weekend before the season finale series with Fullerton. So second place will be decided right there between the lines.

I'll be on the air live from Goleta all weekend (Fri - 2pm, Sat - 1pm and Sun - 1 pm) calling the games and you can listen in here.

Dirtbags sweep Davis

It was an emotional weekend at Blair Field as baseball took a backseat to the stories on and off the field. 

Davis, the conference doormat played hard and gave LBSU (23-20, 10-5) two tough games after a blowout Friday night but the Dirtbags got the sweep they needed and with 11 games to go can still play their way into the NCAA Tournament.

Sunday, TJ Mittelstaedt's two-run seventh inning triple carried the Dirtbags to a 3-2 win. Josh Corrales got the win in an emotional return to Blair Field for the freshman pitcher.

Saturday night, Jake Thompson was stellar again and LBSU won 5-2. It was an interesting night and the game, more than the result, served a much bigger cause.

The Dirtbags rolled over the Aggies in the series opener behind ace Adam Wilk, some big offense and a lot of help from the Davis bullpen in a 16-3 blowout win.

LBSU takes on Pepperdine at 6:30 on Tuesday night. The Dirtbags beat the Waves three weeks ago in Malibu by a 5-4 score.

HIGHLIGHT VIDEO FROM SUNDAY'S 3-2 WIN

The Postseason Push

LBSU (20-20, 7-5) is halfway through Big West play and is currently fourth in the conference standings.

I have a column in today's edition of the Daily 49er about what they need to do to secure a third straight playoff berth and how their schedule and the strength of the Big West plays into that goal.

The Postseason Push: Dirtbags need strong run to make NCAA's

Conference doormat UC Davis (7-32, 1-11) comes to Blair for three this weekend and the Dirtbags need another sweep to get them closer to 30 wins. Davis has just three wins in 21 tries on the road this season.

Back at .500 after losing to UCLA

LBSU fell 7-5 to UCLA Tuesday night in Westwood. 

Bruins DH Casey Haerther laced a one-out first inning grand slam over the wall in left field to give UCLA an early 4-0 lead.

They added one apiece in the second and third and held on after that for the win.

Jeff Lease (2-2) took the loss giving up five runs in the first two innings.

Garret Claypool got his first win of the season for UCLA striking out 7 LBSU hitters in 6 innings of work as the Dirtbags managed just one hit off of him.

Derek Legg continued his torrid hitting with a single and a double and Jordan Casas added a pair of hits as well but the late LBSU comeback fell short.

The loss drops the Dirtbags to 20-20 on the season with 14 games to go.

Bats come alive in sweep of Pacific

Needing a statement to keep their postseason hopes alive the Dirtbags provided a loud one this weekend in taking three games from UOP.

Derek Legg and Steve Tinoco had huge performances at the plate and the pitching was consistent enough to get the job done.

On Sunday it was TJ Mittlestaedt (HR, 4 RBI's) and Devin Lohman (HR, 2 RBI's) providing the pop in a 10-3 romp for the sweep. 

Tinoco, Legg and Casas each had two hits in support of Jake Thompson who went 7 innings, giving up just 3 runs for his third win.

Saturday was a slugfest as LBSU scored 19 runs en route to a 19-6 win.

Kellen Hoime had 4 RBI's and was one of seven LBSU players to register a multi-hit game. Lohman added 4 runs and Tinoco did both - scored 4 and drove in 4 going 3-for-6 on the day. 

Jonathan Jones added 3 hits and Legg scored 3 and drove in 3 in the blowout. Mittelstaedt had 3 runs, 2 hits and 2 RBI's.

Drew Gagnon survived five innings for the victory.

Adam Wilk was on his game again Friday night in a 5-1 victory going 8 1/3 innings while limiting the Tigers to just one run.

Legg was 4-for-4 while Tinoco (3-for-4) and Jordan Casas (2-for-4) each had a pair of RBI's.

The Dirtbags travel to Jackie Robinson Stadiuum Tuesday night to take on UCLA before UC Davis comes to town for three this weekend. 

SDSU wins another mid-week battle with The Beach

The Dirtbags fell 6-3 Tuesday night at San Diego State. 

Jonathan Jones hit his first collegiate homer in the third to give LBSU an early 1-0 lead but the Aztecs responded with three bombs of their own.

Two came off the bat of Cory Vaughn (giving him three in two games against Long Beach this season) and Josh Chasse added one as well.

Ryan O'Sullivan kept the LBSU bats at bay through eight innings for the win while Addison Reed got his NCAA-leading 13th save.

Jordan Casas had two hits and two RBI's for Long Beach.

The Dirtbags (17-19) head to Stockton this weekend for a must-win series with the Pacific Tigers.

Emotional win Sunday, Pitcher of the week honors for Wilk

I did the Dirtbags games on the radio Saturday and Sunday and was verbally puzzled by the yanking of Charlie Ruiz with two outs in the ninth of the series finale and the Dirtbags leading by three.

I couldn't have been more happy for the young man on the mound after finding out why he was there. 

Freshman Josh Corrales entered the ninth, put a runner on, before getting the final out.

It was his first collegiate save, as the Dirtbags got a much needed 5-2 win.

Bigger than anything between the lines was the presence of Corrales' dad behind home plate.

With just a few days to live, Robert Corrales was out of the hospital for one reason - to see his son pitch, and that's just what he got to do.

Jordan Casas was the catalyst again for LBSU with three RBI's including a big two-out, two-run single in the second and Jake Thompson had a gutty performance on the mound after dropping 15 pounds due to the flu.

Big West Pitcher of the Week

After Friday's night gem, junior Adam Wilk took home the hardware Monday.

The big lefty has morphed into the Dirtbags ace in 2009, and this was both the first weekly honor of his career and first of the year for The Beach.

On the year Wilk is 5-1 with a 2.61 ERA. He has 38 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings of work.

Tuesday's night game on TV

The Dirtbags will square off with San Diego State at 6 p.m. Tuesday night on CBS College Sports. 

Against the Aztecs two weeks ago at Blair, Tony Gwynn's bunch squeaked out a 4-3 win over LBSU.

Superstar Aztecs ace Stephen Strasburg will not be on the mound. The Friday night SDSU starter is the consensus number 1 selection in this year's draft and sports an 8-0 record so far this year with a 1.28 ERA while striking out an astounding 121 batters in just 63 1/3 innings pitched.

Dirtbags split first two with Northridge

The Dirtbags (16-18, 3-5 Big West) fell 3-1 to the Matadors Saturday afternoon at Blair. After taking a 1-0 lead Northridge came back with two runs in the sixth off of LBSU starter Andrew Gagnon and added an insurance run in the eighth for the win.

After starting the season 0-12 on the road it was CSUN's (16-21, 4-7 Big West) first win away from home all season. It was also their first win in eight tries against The Beach.

Gagnon was the loser dropping to 2-5 despite five scoreless innings before three straight hits in the sixth led to two Matador runs. Paul Tremlin (5-1) got the win in relief, giving up just one hit in three innings of work.

Brian Slover pitched the last two innings, striking out three and inducing a double play after giving up his only hit, for his fifth save.

Jordan Casas had two hits out of the leadoff spot and a steal but was also picked-off of second in the first and thrown out trying to steal in the seventh.

It was another close game and LBSU could simply not manage to come up with any big clutch hits.

Friday night the Dirtbags got just one run again but behind their ace Adam Wilk (5-1) it would prove to be enough.

Wilk threw eight shutout innings for the win and Charlie Ruiz worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his eighth save.

Wilk was projected to challenge for a weekend starting spot but has emerged as the Friday go-to guy. He gave up only four hits while striking out six.

Casas reached on an error in the eighth and came around to score on a Devin Lohman single providing the lone tally in the game. 

Ryan Juarez (4-3) was the tough-luck loser, surrendering an unearned run in eight innings of his own. Both starters hurled 109 pitches. 

Dirtbags back to their winning ways

LBSU used a four run seventh against Pepperdine Monday afternoon to get their first victory in their last six games and give them some much needed momentum heading into a big series with Cal State Northridge this weekend at Blair.

Jordan Casas and Kellen Hoime had a pair of hits and an RBI while Derek Legg continued his stellar freshman campaign with a big two-run base knock that brought in two of those four seventh innings runs to erase a 4-1 Dirtbag deficit and catapult LBSU to a 5-4 lead -- a margin they would preserve for the win.

David Born (1-0) got the win in relief throwing 2 1/3 innings of three-hit, one-run ball while Charlie Ruiz worked the bottom of the ninth for his seventh save.

The Dirtbags (15-17, 2-4) are back home this weekend for more Big West action.

Cal State Northridge (14-20, 3-6) has played well of late and should provide a good test for a LBSU squad looking to take advantage of some home cooking to get back in the conference race.

While the sweep at UCI dropped the Dirtbags 4.5 games back of the Anteaters for first place in the Big West they are only 1.5 games out of second.

UCI sweeps away Dirtbags

LBSU entered their series with UCI with a golden opportunity to seize a spot atop the Big West standings. They leave it scratching their heads and wondering what could have been.

After losing a 3-2 12-inning heartbreaker Thursday night they wouldn't get that close again.

6-3 and 9-5 losses Friday and Saturday simply signified how far they still have to go to get back to playing Dirtbag baseball.

After a seven game win-streak saw them rise to a season-high two games over .500, they have now lost five in a row and fallen to 14-17 and just 2-4 in the Big West.

At 8-1, Irvine is four and half games up on Long Beach State for the conference lead.

While the defense and mental mistakes must improve if the Dirtbags hope to play in June, team morale and most importantly to coach Weathers their effort is still there.

"They are a really close team," Weathers said after Saturday's loss.  Adding that their effort and camaraderie are "unbelievable."

"I have no complaints, that's big the one big bright light here these guys really are with each other."

Full series coverage from the Daily 49er including Matt Moreno's game story from Friday night

Swept Away: UCI Cleans up LBSU

Dirtbags losing streak runs to 4

No. 5 UCI edges Dirtbags in 12 innings

The Dirtbags look to get back on track Monday afternoon in Malibu, where they take on Pepperdine.

Dirtbags/Anteaters Series Preview

LBSU will hop aboard a bus and travel down the 405 to the 73 and get off at University Avenue make a left and see Anteater Ballpark.

In the other dugout will be Big West foe UCI, the fifth-ranked team in the country.

A series win could mean first place in the conference and some national recognition for the first time since last year's first round regional departure. 

A loss would drop the Dirtbags into the middle of the Big West pack with some more favorable opponents coming up.

Either way for a team on the rise, far more sure of their identity then in the early going, the confidence that could come from knocking off one of the top team's in the nation could really catapult LBSU back into postseason contention.

Dirtbags look to leave UCI Black and Blue

San Diego State upends Dirtbags

4-3 was once again an unlucky score for LBSU (14-14) Tuesday night as the Tony Gwynn-led Aztecs held on for a hard-fought victory at Blair Field.

Three of SDSU's four runs came via the long ball. Brandon Meredith hit a two-run homer to center in the first while Cory Vaughn blasted a solo bomb to left in the sixth.

Meredith also connected on the game winning RBI single in the ninth.

The Dirtbags stranded 13 runners in the contest.

John Hill was 3-for-4 getting a rare start behind the plate, while Jordan Casas was 2-for-5 with a double and his team-leading 13th steal. 

Dustin Rasco (0-2) got the loss in relief while Andrew Leary (2-1) got the win for the Aztecs (23-11).

Addison Reed got his NCAA-leading 11th save by shutting the door in the ninth, stymieing a last ditch Dirtbag effort in the process.

LBSU will take on No. 5 UCI at Anteater Ballpark in Irvine Thursday-Saturday, look for a full preview of that series tomorrow.

LBSU drops finale to UCR

Riverside managed to get one game out of its trip inland by taking the final game of the series 4-3.

The Dirtbags had their chances, and held a 2-0 lead early, but they could not overcome a 4-2 deficit in the ninth scoring once before stranding a pair.

Freshman Andrew Gagnon (2-3) was the tough-luck loser for LBSU going eight innings, allowing just four hits and only two earned runs.

Taylor Krick and Jordan Casas had a pair of hits for the Dirtbags but they made three costly errors that greatly contributed to the unfavorable result.

The loss snapped LBSU's (14-13) seven game win streak. The Boys of Blair will look to rebound Tuesday night against San Diego State before a big three game set with Big West-leading UC Irvine. 

The Anteaters just took two of three on the road from the nation's top team Cal State Fullerton and should certainly ascend into the Top 10 in the polls in advance to hosting the Dirtbags Thursday-Saturday.

Dirtbags win second series in a row

The Dirtbags started conference play the same way they entered it, by winning games.

After winning seven games in the first five weeks they now have seven wins in the past nine days and have ridden the hot streak to a 14-12 mark.

Strong pitching, steady defense and timely hitting are 2009 staples and they have led to a 2-0 conference mark with wins against UC Riverside (5-2 Friday night and 2-1 this afternoon).

Jake Thompson is pitching like its 2008 with his second straight great outing.

He was one out short of a complete game at Blair today after going eight shutout innings last week. 

Charlie Ruiz got his sixth save by recording the final out.

Brennan Metzger was 3-for-3 while Jonathan Jones and TJ Mittlestaedt were 2-for-4.

Lucky Number 7

Adam Wilk ran his record to 4-1 with the win in the series opener. He went 7 and 1/3 innings surrendering just two runs while Ruiz worked 1 and 2/3 perfect innings in relief for the save.

Jordan Casas and Taylor Krick both had a pair of hits and an RBI.

Dirtbags: Back from the dead

At just 7-12 last Friday afternoon the Dirtbags looked young, inexperienced and a year away. Less than a week later they seem to have reversed plenty of those notions.

With a sweep at home against UNLV where all their strongest assets were firing - pitching, speed and defense - LBSU gained some much needed confidence as they headed to the Bay Area.

Games against Santa Clara and Cal did nothing to change that momentum.

The Dirtbags (12-12) scored 33 runs in less than 24 hours pounding Santa Clara 14-4 on Tuesday night and Cal 19-7 on Wednesday afternoon.

The win against Cal must have been particularly gratifying since the Golden Bears swept LBSU at Blair earlier this season.

Four Dirtbags homers were too much for SCU as TJ Mittlestaedt went deep twice and Rylan Sandoval and Brennan Metzger joined the longball party as well.

Jason Markovitz got the win in relief.

A night of sleep did nothing to quell the LBSU rally as they woke up and pounded out 21 hits against Cal including three-run homers from Mittlesatedt (4-for-5, 6 RBI's ) and Devin Lohman (3-for-4, 4 RBI's).

Jeff Lease worked five-plus innings for the win in relief.

The Dirtbags open conference play with UC Riverside Friday night at Blair looking to go over .500 for the first time this season. 

Dirtbags sweep UNLV

LBSU runs their record to 10-12 with a big win on Sunday.

Speed, timely hitting and atrocious defense by UNLV gave the Dirtbags a big 13-4 win.

Rylan Sandoval blasted a 2-run bomb to left and Drew Gagnon worked 6 and 1/3 for his second win.

Dirtbags sweep the Rebels

Jake Thompson was fantastic Saturday afternoon at Blair making quick work of the Rebels en route to a 4-0 LBSU win. 

Thompson surrendered just one hit in eight strong innings and the small ball style worked to perfection for the Dirtbags.

Thompson, Dirtbags get pair of firsts

LBSU will make a short two game trip up North where they will play at Santa Clara Tuesday night and at California Wednesday afternoon. 

The Dirtbags were swept by Cal (11-8, 9-6 and 6-3) at Blair Feb 27-March 1.

They return home next week to start Big West play with a three game series with the Highlanders of UC Riverside.

Dirtbags Update

Sorry for the lack of content recently, folks. 

The lead-up to Spring Break was a busy one but with the mid-terms and papers behind me (for now) let's get back to the important stuff.

We are just under way at Blair today with the second of three games between LBSU and UNLV. 

Long Beach (8-12) won the opener 7-4 behind strong pitching from Adam Wilk and the small ball style Weathers promised to employ before the season.

The Dirtbags are looking for their first series win of the year.

On Tuesday, LBSU fell to the University of San Diego 12-5.

Last weekend the Dirtbags lost two of three at Wichita State. They won the opener 6-4 but dropped the next two 7-5 and 6-1.

News and Notes

- Head coach Mike Weathers continues to serve his three-game suspension for his tirade during a 12-6 win two weeks ago against LMU. Weathers was scheduled to be back for tomorrow's game but the ban was extended an extra game since he was in the ballpark Tuesday at San Diego.

- Pitching Coach Doc Strauss has been handling managerial duties in Weathers absence.

- Junior Steve Tinoco, who has been red hot since early March, has missed the last three games with a strained hamstring.

Make it two in a row for the Dirtbags

For just the second time this year LBSU (6-9) won consecutive games.

Both times the streak included wins over LMU (8-12), this time 12-6.

Tuesday night at Blair the bats came alive again with the Lions in the other dugout.

Eight of the 15 Dirtbag hits came from the corner infield spots as both third baseman Rylan Sandoval and first baseman Taylor Krick went 4-for-5 and scored three runs.

Krick, TJ Mittelstaedt and Brennan Metzger all had a pair of RBI's.

Manny McElroy (1-1) got the win in relief of Jeff Lease. Lease didn't make out of the third and gave up five runs but the Dirtbags came back.

For McElroy it was his first win in nearly two years.

The Dirtbags stole five bases in the game.

Mike Weathers was thrown out of the game in the sixth for arguing a play at second base.

LBSU will travel to Kansas tomorrow to take on the Wichita State Shockers Friday-Sunday.

49ers get the job done

The 49ers (not the Dirtbags) came from behind to beat Washington State 6-5 Sunday at Blair.

It was a big win for a young team searching for an identity, especially when their identity was challenged as a group.

49ers win one for the Dirtbags

News and Notes

Freshman standout Derek Legg is suffering from an oblique and groin injury that will keep him sidelined for Tuesday's game with LMU. 

Jordan Casas' ankle ailment will also keep him out of the lineup for that game. Both could be back for next weekend's series at Wichita State.

Senior catcher Kip Masuda who is just returning from a hamstring injury should start behind the plate Tuesday evening.

Jeff Lease will form the other half of the battery on the mound.

Thursday, LBSU will travel to Kansas for a three game set with the Wichita State Shockers, a perennial NCAA power the Dirtbags have squared off against every year under the tenure of Coach Weathers.

Dirtbags drop another to WSU

A five run ninth inning rally did in LBSU (4-9) as they lost again to the Cougars 8-5 Saturday afternoon.

Adam Wilk went seven innings giving up just three runs and leaving with the lead but the 'pen could not hold it.

Charlie Ruiz took the loss (1-1), surrendering three unearned runs, and striking out four Cougars in just 2/3's of an inning.

But his split-finger fastball was too much for catcher John Hill to handle, as he was charged with a passed ball and Ruiz with two wild pitches.

Devin Lohman, Matt Avery and Steve Tinoco all had two hits for the Dirtbags.

Dirtbags shutout in opener by WSU

LBSU (4-8) managed just five hits Friday night at Blair Field and Washington State (4-8) rolled to a 9-0 victory in the first of three games.

Dirtbags starter Jake Thompson (0-3) gave up seven runs in 4 and 1/3's innings and Long Beach had no answer for the Cougars Matt Way (1-2) who went eight innings surrendering just four hits while striking out eight.

WSU first baseman Alex Burg blasted two homers and drove in four Cougars.

Game two will be Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

LBSU brings big bats back to SoCal

After leaving the cozy confines of beautiful new Columbia Stadium it seemed like the Dirtbags offense would struggle upon returning to Blair Field.

This was not the case Tuesday night.

LBSU erupted for 16 runs in the first five innings alone en route to a thrashing of the Toreros of San Diego 17-3.

While a Tuesday game in early March is not a big deal it was a nice win for the D'Bags considering their loss to USD in last year's Long Beach regional.

Tre Dennis - who has looked tentative and lost early on after transferring to The Beach - slugged a home run, reached base six times and had four RBI's.

Jonathan Jones and Kellen Hoime both went 3-for-5 and scored seven runs combined.

Devin Lohman, Rylan Sandoval and a red-hot Steve Tinoco all added a pair of knocks.

Taylor Krick blasted his second homer of the year.

On the bump Jeff Lease (1-0) had a solid outing and earned the win. He went the minimum but struck out six and gave up just one first inning run. He gave up four hits and walked one. 

Anthony Carrillo, Josh Corrales and Manny McElroy each worked a scoreless inning while striking out two.

Washington States comes to LBSU for a weekend series with the Dirtbags. First pitch on Friday will be at 6:30 p.m.

The Cougars are just 3-8 on the season but eight of their eleven games have been against ranked opponents (0-3 at #22 Arkansas, 2-2 vs. #16 Oklahoma and 0-1 at #7 Rice).

Dirtbags salvage game three

Tinoco slugs Dirtbags to victory
LBSU drops two out of three in South Carolina

Long Beach State (3-7) escaped Columbia, South Carolina with one win by beating 25th-ranked USC at their own power game en route to a 10-7 win Sunday afternoon.

Junior Steve Tinoco had a career-day going 5-for-5, scoring four runs and hitting three solo home runs.

The first baseman had just three hits all season entering play Sunday and three home runs in his career at Long Beach State.

Derek Legg added three hits while Jonathan Jones and Jordan Casas had two apiece.

Freshman Andrew Gagnon (1-0) got his first collegiate win on the mound in five innings of work, giving up four runs while striking out seven, and Charlie Ruiz got his second save.

It was the first loss of the season for South Carolina (8-1).

The Dirtbags dropped Saturday's contest despite back-to-back homers in the first inning from Devin Lohman and TJ Mittlestaedt that gave LBSU an early 2-0 lead.

Adam Wilk (1-1) was the loser for The Beach going 4 2/3 innings and was charged with four earned runs.

In Friday night's series opener Legg went 3-for-4 and belted a ninth inning grand slam but it wasn't enough as LBSU fell to the Gamecocks 15-8.

Jake Thompson (0-2) took the loss for LBSU giving up five earned runs in 4 1/3 innings and Tyler Topp got hit hard out of the bullpen surrendering seven earned in just 3 2/3 innings of relief.

The Dirtbags found their power stroke over the weekend crushing seven homers in the three games after hitting only one in their first seven games.

LBSU is back at Blair Field for their next five games. The host San Diego on Tuesday with the first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Carolina on my mind

The Dirtbags are in Columbia, South Carolina for a three game set with the Gamecocks.

While the LBSU bats have woke up a bit of late their best chance of winning lies with the Thompson-Wilk-Gagnon tandem that will start on the mound for The Beach

All three have shown great stuff on the young season.

The 25th-ranked South Carolina squad is 6-0 in 2009.

LBSU is just 2-5 after dropping back-to-back series' with USC and Cal.

First pitch tomorrow will be at 4 p.m. Pacific time.

Full run down of the series from the USC perspective

Dirtbags are swept by Cal

Cal's bats got after it again Sunday to the tune of 15 hits and beat LBSU 6-3 to take all three games over the weekend.

Thoughts

It's not that Long Beach State is that bad - it's a young inexperienced team that is taking its lumps - but in Cal they faced a better team that knows how to win ball games.

Jake Thompson was hit hard, despite pitching into the seventh and working out of some jams. 

He was also throwing hard, topping out at a blazing 94 mph on the gun. It's his off-speed stuff, or better use of it, that will really make him effective especially against good line-ups.

Probables

Thompson will get the nod Friday night at South Carolina while Adam Wilk should get the Saturday start due in large part to his dominating performance at LMU Wednesday.

Drew Gagnon will get another Sunday start after throwing in relief yesterday.

Notes

South Carolina (4-0) has just begun play in a beautiful new $25 million+ facility. 

Gamecocks coach Dave Tanner was the 2003 USA National team's head coach while Weathers was one of his assistants.

Tanner also coached with Weather's predecessor and Dirtbag legend Dave Snow in 1995 and 1996 including the Olympics in Atlanta.

LBSU will take just 25 players to Columbia, the first time Weathers had said he will have had to leave players at home.

It's the worst start for the Dirtbags since 1998 when they won just two of their first 11 (2-8-1), but rebounded to win that many at the College World Series (their last appearance in Omaha).

Beach drops first two to Cal

In a pair of high-scoring affairs LBSU came up short last night and this afternoon at Blair.

Jeff Lease couldn't finish the first inning - giving up four hits and four runs (two earned) - and Long Beach dropped a 9-6 decision to Cal on Saturday afternoon.

Devin Lohman had three hits and T.J. Mittlestaedt reached base in five of his seven plate appearances and had 2 RBI's.

Drew Gagnon pitched five and a third innings of relief, striking out five and giving up three runs.

Cal won the opener 11-8 despite trailing 8-4 in the middle innings.

The Dirtbags defense, especially at third base, struggled again committing five errors leading to Cal's three run ninth inning rally and seven unearned runs for the Golden Bears.

Tyler Topp got the start in place of Jake Thompson but didn't make it out of the fourth.

Mittlestaedt had another strong game out of the DH spot going 3 for 4 with 2 RBI's.

Rylan Sandoval had three errors at third after Taylor Krick had a two error game at the hot corner last Sunday.

Probables for Cal Series

After a mid-week win over LMU, Long Beach has another Pac-10 foe this weekend in Cal Berkeley. 

Jake Thompson gets the nod tonight against the Golden Bears. The most proven starter for LBSu should assume this role full time but was slotted Saturday against SC so he could start the highly anticipated home opener.

Jeff Lease will get his first start as a Dirtbag on Saturday afternoon. Lease has worked two and a third innings in relief and I think Coach Weathers wants to get a look at the sophomore southpaw in a different capacity.

Freshman Andrew Gagnon (pronounced Gey-ohn) will start Sunday after tossing five good innings in his Dirtbag debut a week ago in LA. It should be an exciting first appearance at Blair as well.

Tyler Topp is still in the mix to start and Adam Wilk pitched so well at LMU he could find his way into the weekend rotation as well. 

LBSU travels to South Carolina for a three game set before returning to Blair for five games in eight days. Topp and Wilk could easily start those two Tuesday games but I'm sure Weathers and his staff would like to see his veterans get some work in there before then and that Saturday start could be it regardless of Lease's performance.

First pitch later tonight is at 6:30, 2 and 1 Saturday and Sunday. This will be the typical weekend schedule for LBSU games at Blair.

Dirtbags tame Lions

LBSU went back to LA today and held on late for a 9-6 win against Loyola Marymount.

Adam Wilk went seven strong innings giving up just two hits and one run.

The bats came out again too as T.J. Mittlestaedt (three hits) led six Dirtbags with multi-hit performances.

Five other guys -- Jones, Casas, Lohman, Krick and Legg -- all had a pair. 

So the top five in the lineup were 10-for-22 with 5 RBI's as Long Beach runs their record to 2-2.

Charlie Ruiz worked the ninth for the save.

The Cal Golden Bears come to Blair for three this weekend.

Team Preview: Part II (The Pitchers)

As promised here is part two of the season preview featuring the pitching staff and info about the schedule. Three games in the picture looks a little clearer. 

Thompson and Gagnon solidified their weekend spots. Lease and Wilk may battle Topp for the other slot. McElroy will stay in the 'pen for the time being.

Here's an in-depth look at the 2009 staff.

LMU tomorrow, Cal this weekend.

Dirtbags get first win in '09

It was Oscar Sunday in LA and the Dirtbags stole the show.

The freshman came up big for LBSU as Drew Gagnon had a strong first outing and Derek Legg, lauded for his hands at second base, had three hits to lead Long Beach to a 5-4 win over USC.

After dropping the first two games of the series it was great for The Beach to get a win and show some mettle, answering each scoring output from the Trojans with one of their own.

LBSU will start Adam Wilk Wednesday at LMU and take on Cal at Blair Field next weekend.

Thompson and Gagnon will get starts again, Topp or Lease should get the nod in the other game.

D'Bags avoid sweep with 5-4 win at USC

The long wait is over....

Spring is finally here.

It's a beautiful day for baseball.

I'm at Dedeaux Field in Los Angeles and the Trojans are about to take the field.

Dirtbags starting line-up today:

Jones - CF

Legg - 2B

Krick - 3B

Blood - DH

Lohman - SS

Tinoco - 1B

Avery - LF

Hoime - C

Casas - RF

Gagnon on the bump

USC shuts out LBSU in home opener

Back down the 405 the Dirtbags luck wasn't much better Saturday night.

USC took game two, and the only one at Blair, 4-0.

Sophomore Jake Thompson pitched well, scattering three hits over seven scoreless innings, but the Trojans broke through for four in the eighth and the Dirtbags had no answer for SC pitching.

USC starter Kevin Couture went seven innings allowing just two hits and striking out 10.

Manny McElroy took the loss for The Beach walking the only two batters he faced in the 8th before Dustin Rasco gave up two big hits as all four Trojans would come around to score.

In two games LBSU has managed just seven hits while striking out 26 times.

SC starters are 2-0 with 13 IP, 3 H, 21 k's and 0 ER's

Long Beach looks to stave off a sweep tomorrow back in Los Angeles at 1 p.m.

Freshman Drew Gagnon makes his first collegiate start for the Dirtbags.

D'Bags drop opener at Dedeaux

In their season opener LBSU fell 5-3 at USC.

Taylor Krick hit a three-run bomb to put the Dirtbags on the board in the eighth but they couldn't muster any more of a comeback.

Highlights - Krick's homer, Freshman Derek Legg's first hit

Lowlights - Devin Lohman with a golden sombrero out of the clean-up spot and Tyler Topp not making it out of the fourth

Home opener at 5 o'clock tomorrow

The Boys of Blair are back!

2009 Dirtbag Preview Part 1

The 2009 LBSU Dirtbags are back in full force tomorrow evening at Dedeaux Field in Los Angeles. Long Beach will take on USC to open the season. Saturday's game will be at home and will follow the men's basketball BracketBuster game at 2:30. 

LBSU swept the Trojans last winter. We will start the preview off with the defense - infield and outfield - then unveil the pitching staff and some other odds and ends next Tuesday.

Part 1 of the Team Preview - Infield/Outfield

Check back this weekend for updates on the USC series. I will be at the game Sunday, so expect a full Sunday game story and weekend recap shortly after that contest is complete.

Dirtbags picked fourth in preseason poll

Big West coaches vote LBSU fourth in preseason Big West poll

Season preview coming very soon....

LBSU Baseball - The 2009 Edition coming soon

This will be short and sweet, but I wanted to get the ball rolling a bit in anticipation of Dirtbag baseball in 2009.

Thanks to the wonderful folks at the NCAA we will again have to wait until late February (instead of late January) for college baseball. I can't think of anything worse unless of course you are them and you have had to listen to cold weather teams bitch and moan for years about the competitive disadvantage of southern, warm weather teams like those in Florida and California.

So we are stuck with this for now. Baseball's version of midnight madness and spring practice is not getting to play until after Valentine's Day. Now we just get stuck with enough games per week that the schedule could be confused with a pro team.

Anyway, it was a highly successful season for LBSU in 2008. Not only did the team take a share of the Big West crown and get to host a regional but ex-Dirtbags took the baseball world by storm. John Bowker homered in his first two games as a Giant and Evan Longoria won ROY, was named to the AL all-star team and played in the World Series.

In the draft the Dirtbags had 11 players selected and other ex-Blair Boys like Giambi, Weaver and Tulowitzki are still playing good ball.

The Dirtbags will have to replace a ton of talent in the coming season. But more on that with a full-scale team preview in the next few weeks. Check back all spring for stories, stats and more!