Dirtbags win two

Back-to-back complete games by Long Beach State pitchers Jeff Leuenberger on Friday and Matt Paz on Saturday helped the Dirtbags win their first two games against Cal Poly at Blair Field, 2-0 and 9-1.

The win puts the Dirtbags at 13-4 overall and 2-0 in the Big West Conference. This is the first Big West series of the season for both teams.
 

Leuenberger (2-0, 3.35 ERA) blanked the Mustangs (5-12, 0-2) on two hits, both singles, facing a mere 28 batters in the game. He struck out seven and issued no walks in his second complete game in as many starts.

Paz (6-0, 1.60) allowed his only run Saturday in the first inning when Cal Poly's Keith Anderson popped up to right field with two outs and Brian Oxley on first. LBSU right fielder Chuck Lopez lost it in the lights, allowing the ball to fall to the ground for a hit. Oxley, running all the way, scored from first.

After the first, Paz would go on to retire 24 of the next 28 batters, striking out a career-high 10. No Cal Poly runner reached second base in the final eight innings.

Offensively, the Dirtbags' aggressive base running was key. They stole five bases and collected four doubles in their 9-run effort.

"We were always looking to take that extra base," LBSU Head Coach Dave Snow said.

LBSU shortstop and lead-off hitter Bobby Crosby went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Lopez extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a double in the fifth. He also scored his team-leading 20th run.

Lopez credits his success to "just staying with my routine."

"Since I've done it for four years now, I don't go up there and worry about it -- I just do what I do best," he said.