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The Long Beach State Dirtbags (4-3) had to dance between raindrops to get in their series with visiting Seattle on Bohl Diamond at Blair Field, and they split a double header on Monday to take their second series in the second week of the season.
“We dealt with a lot this weekend having to play around the weather and out of our routine,” LBSU coach Eric Valenzuela said. “We lost a tough game one on a long day and the way they responded and played the second game shows a lot.”
LBSU took the first rescheduled game on Sunday 11-5 thanks to a seven-run eighth inning, but Seattle bounced back to take the first game on Monday 5-0. Dirtbags freshman starter Myles Patton then stepped up to grab his first collegiate win on Monday night in a 13-2 victory.
“It was tough dealing with the rain but this is going to make us better and more adaptable to tough situations is only going to help us in the long run,” said Patton, who struggled in his debut last weekend. “I got the nerves out of the way and challenged hitters better today by throwing my off speeds for strikes. I wasn’t trying to baby it or be too cute… Just trying to throw it without being too worried about it.”
Patton gave up only three hits and an unearned run in five innings of work. He struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.
“It was on his shoulders to win us a series and he did that,” Valenzuela said of Patton. “It’s good to see a freshman respond to his outing last week. He did a good job dealing with all the circumstances.”
Third baseman Rocco Peppi and shortstop Eddie Saldivar have lead the offense this season with 11 hits each. They’ve combined to score 10 runs. Peppi has a team-high nine RBI. Outfielder Joey Walls Jr. has chipped in a team-high three home runs with six runs scored.
The Dirtbags travel to North Carolina for the LaClair Classic this weekend. They’ll face Georgetown on Friday, East Carolina on Saturday and Indiana on Sunday.
