The offensive woes continued for the Long Beach State Dirtbags in their home opener on Tuesday night at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. LBSU (0-4) only mustered five hits in the 4-0 loss to San Diego, and has only scored five runs in its first four games.
“Offensively it’s a problem right now as far as putting at bats together,” Dirtbags coach Troy Buckley said. “Guys are trying to do too much with long swings. It’s not that difficult, but we’re really choke holding ourselves when runners are in scoring position. That’s more mental than it is physical.”
Shortstop Santino Rivera was the only Dirtbag with two hits. Tyler Porter, Calvin Estrada and Aidan Malm also had hits. The Dirtbags loaded the bases in the ninth inning, but San Diego closer Travis Kuhn struck out the side to end the threat and the game.
“I think we’ve got to be more aggressive at the plate and hit pitches up in the zone,” catcher Chris Jimenez said. “Our coaches preach to jump on the fastball and we’re kind of getting away from that.”
Freshman starting pitcher Basilio Pacheco didn’t give up an earned run in five innings of work, but errors by third baseman Kaden Hogan, Estrada and Pacheco in the second inning allowed San Diego (4-0) to score all four runs in the top of the frame.
“You’re not going to win playing that way, especially with the schedule we’re playing,” Buckley said of the errors.
This was LBSU’s first home opening defeat since 2014. The Dirtbags will host Nevada this weekend for a series at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.
