Long Beach State Dirtbags Drop Series To No. 9 Ole Miss

The Long Beach State Dirtbags lost their third consecutive rubber match on Sunday at Blair Field where No. 9 Ole Miss took the nonconference series with a 12-1 win.

LBSU (4-8) gave up a season-high run total in the game, and in the series. Ole Miss (10-1) had 14 hits and scored in six different innings off of five Dirtbags pitchers.

Junior Tyler Radcliffe made his first start of the season for LBSU and gave an earned run in two innings. The Wilson High alum is returning from another knee surgery. Three of the next four LBSU pitchers also worked two innings. The staff combined for 10 walks and only five strikeouts. BOX SCORE

The injury-plagued Dirtbags started four freshman with designated hitter Steven Rivas, third baseman Chris Jimenez, first baseman Leonard Jones and shortstop Santino Rivera.

“We’re not freshman anymore,” Jimenez said. “We have to keep improving.”

The Dirtbags finish their six-game home stand against No. 5 Vanderbilt on Wednesday.

The Fosters address the crowd after (seated left to right) LBSU President Jane Close Conoley, LBSU AD Andy Fee and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia.

Before the game, the Dirtbags locker room was officially named the Honorable Bob & Nancy Foster Dirtbags Locker Room in a short ceremony with a long list of dignitaries on hand. Former Long Beach mayor Bob Foster also threw out the first pitch to Dirtbags head coach Troy Buckley.