After a 14-9 win on Friday night at Dobbins Field, Long Beach State won the next two games to complete another sweep against UC Davis. The Dirtbags won 9-3 on Saturday and 10-2 on Sunday for their fifth sweep of 2017 and third against Big West Conference opponents, holding on to their first place standing at 13-2.
There was no shortage of offense over the weekend as heavy wind conditions assisted 10 fly balls in leaving the park between both teams.
“It wasn’t the friendliest of ballparks to pitch in, especially with the wind blowing straight out to left field,” junior John Sheaks said.
Junior Darren McCaughan was the victim of three home runs on Friday night and gave up a career high eight runs. LBSU (28-14, 13-2 Big West) was able to back up their starter exploding for 16 hits, four home runs and 14 runs scored – all season highs for the team.
“We’ve developed a lot of trust in our offense to produce,” Sheaks said. “No matter how many innings we end up throwing, we know that they are going to have our backs.”
McCaughan finished the game with an unsightly final line of 4 1/3 IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 1 BB, 3 Ks. The most significant stat was the one walk the Dirtbags’ ace allowed to UC Davis (12-23, 5-10 Big West), his first in 38 innings pitched over his last five starts.
Notable hitters from Friday’s game include junior left fielder Lucas Tancas (3 for 6, 2 RBIs, 3 runs) and senior first baseman Daniel Jackson (2 for 6, 5 RBIs) who each homered as part of the four home runs LBSU hit in the game.
Game two was a much better game for Dirtbags’ pitching as UC Davis only accounted for three runs, all charged to junior starting pitcher John Sheaks, who pitched well enough to earn the win (5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 4 Ks). His seventh win of the season now puts him atop all other Big West Conference pitchers in the win column.
Junior shortstop Laine Huffman led the way on offense going 4 for 5 with three RBIs and two doubles. LBSU’s junior catcher David Banuelos hit his sixth home run of the season as part of a 3 for 5 day at the plate.
That left it up to senior Dave Smith to once again put the Dirtbags in a position to sweep. The veteran right hander delivered, fairing the best out of the three starting pitchers; 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 5 Ks).
Tancas blasted his team-leading eighth home run on Sunday — but it was Huffman who stole the show again, going 3 for 4 with three RBIs.
“I saw a lot of good pitches to hit this weekend and I was able to take advantage of them,” Huffman said. “My approach is to hit the ball hard up the middle [of the field] and that helped me put some good swings together this weekend.”
The junior shortstop was thrust into the lineup halfway through the season and has been a consistent threat in the nine hole. After the 9 for 13 stint at the plate, Huffman’s season average is now up to .306 with a total of 21 RBIs.
LBSU will have to try to avoid a third straight mid-week game on Tuesday at University of San Diego (28-14). The Dirtbags are back home to host Cal Poly (19-23, 8-4 Big West) May 5-7 at Blair Field.