After sweeping the East Carolina Pirates over the weekend at Jackie Robinson Stadium, the No. 15 Bruins (6-5, 0-0 Pac-10) traveled down the freeway hoping to extend a week-long four-game winning streak at Blair Field on Tuesday night.
Their hopes came to a sudden halt.
The Bruins suffered a 14-1 defeat to No. 20 Long Beach State (6-4, 0-0 Big West) after allowing three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, and eight backbreaking runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Dirtbags scored more runs (14) than they had hits (12).
In a game in which the wheels fell off late, the lone bright spot occurred early in the game. Freshman left-handed pitcher Matt Drummond took the mound for the Bruins. The impressive southpaw from Paso Robles, Calif., faced 15 batters, surrendering three hits and walking two, in four solid innings of work. Not bad for an 18-year-old making his first collegiate start.
“I was excited, but it was no big deal,” said Drummond, referring to his first appearance coming on the road.
Battery-mate Ryan Babineau did not notice much nervousness from the freshman on the mound.
“(Drummond) did an outstanding job,” sophomore catcher Babineau said. “I am really proud of the way he went out there and you cannot ask for more.”
Coach John Savage brought in freshman left-handed pitcher Justin Uribe, who would eventually be tabbed the losing pitcher, to start the bottom half of the fifth inning and replace Drummond.
Uribe managed to retire the first two batters on fly outs, but gave up a single to second baseman Matt Cline on a 1-2 pitch and walked leadoff batter Robert Perry. The rally was continued by designated hitter A.J. Pinocchio, who singled to left center, scoring Cline from second base to put Long Beach State up 1-0.
With two runners on base, Savage was forced to bring in freshman right-hander J.D. Haver to face right-handed hitter Steve Tinoco. Haver walked Tinoco on five pitches to load the bases. The walk was followed by two wild pitches that scored two more runs, putting the Dirtbags up 3-0. Savage switched pitchers once more, bringing in senior left-hander Paul Schmidt, who stopped the bleeding and got clean-up hitter Jason Corder to ground out to shortstop Brandon Crawford.
The Bruins answered with one out in the top of the sixth inning. Junior second baseman Alden Carrithers singled to right field on the first pitch and left fielder Brady Dolan followed with an RBI triple to center field. Crawford reached first base on a fielder’s choice ground out after blooping a bunt that floated past the first base side of the pitcher’s mound. The ball was fielded by Cline after hitting the ground and Dolan was gunned down at home.
The Dirtbags responded quickly in the bottom of the sixth inning and quickly put the game out of reach.
The Bruins will look to rebound tonight in an exhibition against St. Paul University of Japan.
“We just have to come out with fire … and get back to doing things we have been doing up to date,” Babineau said.