49ers get 55 hits, 3 wins

By Eric Boyum, On-line Forty-Niner

April 14,1998

 

Neither rain nor New Mexico State's pitching staff could prevent the Long Beach State 49er baseball team from smashing 55 hits that produced 36 runs in a three-game series sweep of New Mexico State at Blair Field during last weekend.

 

Sunday's 7-5 win found the 49ers feasting on Aggie pitching with 17 hits. Long Beach collected 26 hits Saturday - second most in Long Beach's history - in a 19-6 rain-weathered victory that started 40 minutes after the scheduled 7:05 p.m. start time. Starting off the series, the 49ers had 12 hits in a 10-2 win Friday.

 

"When I took over this program last year there was no pitching," New Mexico State Coach Rocky Ward said.

 

Indeed, the Aggie's team earned run average this year hovers at 8.24. Compared to last year, with a 10.86 team ERA, it is a slight improvement.

 

However, the Aggie pitching staff didn't hide many pitches from a potent 49er hitting lineup - averaging a team batting average of .351 coming into the series.

 

The 49er Easter weekend hit hunt allowed the Dirtbags to keep alive a six-game conference win streak that included a three-game sweep at Sacramento State, which leads the Big West Conference's Northern Division, during spring break.

 

With an important three-game conference series at Nevada this week, followed by a critical home series against Fullerton, Long Beach State Coach Dave Snow has his team (24-12,16-2) leading by two games over the Titans in the South Division.

 

Although the 49ers hold a lead, Snow is still unsure of his squad's future.

 

"We are happy with where we are at, but we haven't got anything locked up yet. There are still too many games left to play. I'll be happy with a [two] game lead once the season is over," Snow said.

 

49er Notes: Long Beach State will play a non-conference game tonight at Blair Field against Cal State Northridge.

 

The game will celebrate the park's 40-year anniversary. Commemorative tickets will be given at the gate.

 

Pre-game festivities will honor the first sports editor of the Press-Telegram, Frank Blair (1921-1953), for whom the park was named. At 6:55 p.m., three ceremonial pitches will be thrown by former sports editors John Dixon (1966-1980), Jim McCormack (1980-1996) and current editor Jim Buzinski.

 

49er individual notes: Junior outfielder Chuck Lopez was named Big West Player of the Week. He batted .619, getting hits in 13 of 21 at bats, and currently leads the 49ers with a .463 average. His award marks the fifth time a 49er has received the honor this season.