Dirtbags beat Aggies twice

After a tenth inning come-from-behind win Friday, Long Beach State removed all doubt in Saturday's game with a 9-1 win over New Mexico State at Blair Field.

LBSU starter Matt Paz (7-1, 2.75 ERA) earned his first victory since March 11, tossing eight innings and allowing one run on three hits and five strikeouts.

Paz, who went three starts without a win, said a lack of trust in his pitches caused the slump.

"When I get the sign from my catcher, committing to that pitch" is the difference, Paz said.   "I'm getting the ball where I want it to be."

The Dirtbags (22-11, overall 10-4 Big West Conference) pounded out 13 hits Saturday, including four doubles.
 

Center fielder Robert Womack went 2-3, both doubles, and collected three RBIs to go with one double and three RBIs Friday.

Womack, who had only four doubles and 12 RBIs coming into the series, thinks the team is back on track after struggling recently. Before this weekend, LBSU had lost four of its last five games.

"We've just got to find an equilibrium," Womack said. "I think we're there right now."

LBSU scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth Friday, capped by Chuck Lopez's two-run homer, to send the game to extra innings.

Second baseman A.J. LaBarbera doubled home the winning run in the tenth, his only hit of the evening. It was the first time this season the Dirtbags won when trailing after eight innings.

The Aggies (15-21, 0-11)  have yet to win at Blair Field in 17 tries. The Dirtbags' hold a 26-3 all-time advantage and have won the last six contests.

Lopez had three hits Friday and one Saturday, giving him 213 career hits and placing him third on the Dirtbags' all-time list. He needs 18 more to pass Jeff Liefer, who played from 1993-95, for first.