Darren McCaughan and Long Beach State Dirtbags edge CSU Fullerton

LONG BEACH >> Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton kicked it old school on Friday night at Blair Field with a classic pitcher’s duel between the Big West Conference rivals in front of a season-high 2,391 fans.

Starting pitcher Darren McCaughan and the Dirtbags, who are ranked No. 22 by Baseball America, edged the No. 23 Titans 2-1 to force a wier-take-all conference game at 1 p.m. Saturday in the regular-season finale. The wier will take the Big West championship, and also ea the automatic bid into the NCAA postseason.

“This is just like the old days,” LBSU head coach Troy Buckley said. “What a great game. This is what you dream of, and this is what we play for. Game seven of the World Series; last game to win a Big West title against Fullerton … This is great drama, and it’s just great stuff to be able to finish it off.”

McCaughan pitched 7 1/3 iings and allowed six hits while striking out three batters and only walking one. The sophomore improved to 10-1 and lowered his ERA to 1.98. He’s the first 10-game wier for LBSU (36-19, 15-8) since 2005.

“That was one of the fuest things I’ve ever done,” McCaughan said of his quality start. “To do it here, against (Fullerton) in front of my family and friends was awesome.”

Other than the forth iing when CSUF (34-21, 16-7) scored its only run, McCaughan didn’t allow a baseruer to reach second base.

“He’s one of the best competitors I’ve ever had and I’m going to fight like hell to get him the (Big West) Pitcher of the Year award,” Buckley said.

The overall statistics for both teams predicted a tight, low-scoring series, and defensive miscues opened the door for all of Friday’s offense.

In the top of the fourth, Dirtbags left fielder Brock Lundquist misplayed a fly ball he lost in the sun, and Titan senior Jerrod Bravo advanced to second with a one-out double, the only extra-base hit of the day. The catcher took third on a single by Taer Pinkston, and scored on an RBI bunt single from center fielder Scott Hurst.

The Dirtbags took their first lead of the game, and the series, in the sixth iing. After designated hitter Luke Rasmussen reached on a one-out error by first baseman Dalton Blaser, Lundquist drew a four-pitch walk and Daniel Jackson flared a single to right field to load the bases. Catcher David Banuelos battled to draw a run-scoring walk that ended CSUF starter John Gavin’s night. He pitched 5 1/3 iings and allowed five hits while walking three and striking out two.

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CSUF junior Scott Serigstad came on in relief, but pinch hitter Garrett Nelson greeted him with an RBI groundout to first base on the first pitch he saw. Both uneaed runs were charged to Gavin.

Austin McGeorge came on in relief of McCaughan in the eighth iing and used three pitches to get the last two outs of the iing with a man on first base. He walked a batter in the ninth, and Banuelos threw him out at second to end the game. It’s McGeorge’s fifth save of the season.

“Our goal has always been to win the Big West,” McCaughan said. “We were never going to let one game (on Thursday) take that away from us. Now it’s ours to go get.”

A win for the Dirtbags today means their first Big West championship since 2008, as they would be tied with the Titans in the standings but take the automatic bid thanks to the tiebreaker. A Fullerton win would mean an outright title for the Titans and an automatic postseason berth.

This season finale is also Senior Day, as seven departing Dirtbags will be celebrated before the game. Long Beach mayor Robert Garcia will also be at Blair Field pregame to deliver a special declaration before the festivities get underway. Fans are encouraged to get to the ballpark early to not miss out on an eventful day at Blair. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be televised live on Fox Sports Prime Ticket.