Long Beach State Dirtbags and Texas need extra iings

LONG BEACH >> While Long Beach State took advantage of Texas mistakes in the NCAA Regional game on Saturday night at Blair Field, the visiting Longhos used three solo home runs to pull even with the Dirtbags.

The score was tied 3-3 after nine iing at deadline. Please visit PressTelegram.com/sports for a full report.

Texas entered the weekend with the second-best fielding percentage in the nation, but two lazy plays on defense helped LBSU take its second first-iing lead this weekend. Senior Daniel Jackson pulled an 0-2 pitch down the left-field line and Texas third baseman Ryan Reynolds failed on a backhand try to keep the ball in the infield. Jackson took second with one out for his 11th double.

After junior Lucas Tancas drew a walk, Texas second baseman Bret Boswell saved a run on a ground ball up the middle from Ramsey Romano. The junior tracked down the grounder and flipped it with his glove to shortstop David Hamilton to get Tancas.

Jackson took third on the play, and when Romano tried a delayed steal, Boswell and Hamilton had a miscommunication. Neither covered the bag, and while they scrambled to tag Romano for the final out, Jackson scored to take the lead just before the out at second.

Texas tied the score in the top of the second iing on a two-out solo home run from Boswell, but LBSU right fielder Brock Lundquist hit a solo home run in the next iing to retake the 2-1 lead.

Texas starting pitcher Morgan Cooper settled in after that and retired 15 of the next 16 batters he faced, with six strikeouts. Meanwhile, LBSU ace Darren McCaughan pitched well, besides giving up two solo home runs. The two-time Big West Pitcher of the Year retired 11 straight batters after the first home run, and stranded the bases loaded in the sixth iing before giving up a second home run to Boswell in the seventh to tie the score 2-2.

Romano was in the middle of the action again when he led off the bottom of the seventh iing. His speed on a ground ball forced an errant throw, and he advanced to second base. Lundquist showed bunt and slashed a single to right field. With ruers at the coers and no outs, Banuelos struck out on a 3-2 pitch while Lundquist tried to steal second. Texas catcher Michael Cantu faked a throw to second, but instead threw to third, where he hit Romano in the back. Romano spun around quickly and came home to score.

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Josh Advocate came out of the bullpen to relive McCaughan, but Texas senior Zane Gurwitz hit the fourth solo home run of the night to tie the score for the fourth time, 3-3. McCaughan gave up five hits and two walks while striking out three in seven iings.

Huffman led off the eighth with a single, and Duran sacrificed him over to second, but Cooper escaped the jam with a ground out and a pop out. Cooper pitched eight iings and gave up six hits and two eaed runs. He struck out seven and walked one.

After closer Chris Rivera pitched a perfect ninth, Lundquist got on base when he was hit by a pitch with one out. He took second on a wild pitch from Texas closer Chase Shugart, and that brought in pinch-ruer Brooks Stotler and sent pinch-hitter Alex Muzzi to the plate. The senior drove a pitch to right field where Patrick Mathis dove to make a game-saving catch.

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