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The No. 24 Long Beach State Dirtbags have won two very different ways this weekend at No. 3 Mississippi State and can complete the sweep today. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT,
On Friday, starter Luis Ramirez helped the Dirtbags win a pitchers’ duel 3-0, and on Saturday the offense exploded for a 13-3 victory.
Sophomore first baseman Jonathan Long went 4-for-4 on Saturday with two solo home runs and three runs scored. Second baseman Eddie Saldivar, shortstop Sebastian Murillo and designated hitter Kaden Moeller all had two hits. Center fielder Alex Pimentel reached base four times and scored three runs.
Juniors Jack Noble and Ethan Clough came out of the bullpen and pitched 6.1 scoreless innings. Noble struck out six of the 17 batters he faced.
Redshirt freshman pitcher Juaron Watts-Brown will get the start for the Dirtbags today. The hard throwing righty is coming off injury and has looked good in the offseason scrimmages.
“He’s a special kid,” Dirtbags coach Eric Valenzuela said of Watts-Brown. “He’s raw and there will be growing pains but his stuff is just real. He’s such a competitor. He played quarterback at a big high school so I don’t think he’s going to be intimidated by anything.”
The final game of the series will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus.
