Dirtbags drown in Waves pitching

Pepperdine starting pitcher Steve Schenewerck threw 8 1/3 shutout innings Tuesday, giving the Waves its second win in as many weeks over the Dirtbags, 2-0, in Malibu.

Closer Noah Lowry combined with Schenewerck to hold Long Beach State (23-12) to four hits, inducing a game ending double play. No LBSU runner advanced past second base.

It was the first time the 20th-ranked Dirtbags were shut out since May 1997, an 8-0 loss to UC Santa Barbara. They are now 1-4 on Tuesdays.
 

While most students will be soaking up the sun somewhere during spring break, the Dirtbags will be facing two more Big West Conference opponents. They begin this Friday by taking a trip up the road to Cal State Fullerton (21-10, 10-2 conference), a perennial showdown with possible postseason implications.

Since LBSU Head Coach Dave Snow took the helm in 1989, either the Titans, ranked No.14, or the Dirtbags have reached the College World Series nine times. The Dirtbags have been there four of those years, with both teams missing Omaha in 1997 and 1998.

Snow attempted to downplay the importance of the series.

"The last few years, the conference hasn't been determined by what we do against each other," Snow said. "There's a lot of interest in this series in Southern California, year in and year out, and it's good for college baseball.

The teams will face off Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Under Snow, the Dirtbags have an even 24-24 record against the Titans.

LBSU right fielder Chuck Lopez thinks the team is ready for this matchup.

"I think its going to come down to who wants it more," Lopez said. "Pitching, defense, everything will come into play."

The Dirtbags will then travel to Goleta Thursday to take on UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos are 17-15 overall and 7-5 in conference play.