TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1999

Dirtbags dump Aggies on road

By Arnold V. Cruz

On-Line Forty-Niner

Desperate to get back into the Big West Conference race, the Long Beach State men's baseball team came away with a three-game sweep of the New Mexico State Aggies this weekend at Blair Field.

Second place Nevada swept its three-game series vs. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, remaining two games ahead of the 49ers in the conference.

The 49ers completed the sweep on Sunday with a 6-5 victory over the Aggies. Reliever Jeremy Ward tossed three scoreless innings to record his fourth save of the season for the 49ers.

The Dirtbags scored two runs in the fifth to provide the winning margin.

Chris Wright and Greg Dobbs supplied the 49ers with RBI singles in the inning.

The Aggies scored two in the top of the sixth inning but were shut down by Ward for the remainder of the game.

On Saturday, 49ers coach Dave Snow opted to start left-handed ace pitcher Mike Gallo opposite the Aggies' ace Luke Sullivan. Gallo had a blister on his middle finger of his left hand, but it was not a factor. Gallo recorded his third complete game and second shutout of the year as the 49ers dumped the Aggies, 6-0.

"My arm felt really good," Gallo said. "I was having problems with the ball halfway through the game, but I just got in my groove."

"He hasn't pitched liked that in a long time," Snow said, referring to how well Gallo pitched in the final four innings. "It was a big win for us."

Utility player A.J. LaBarbera supplied Gallo with support on offense and with a few defensive gems.

LaBarbera was 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored. He also threw out a runner at home from right field and robbed a hitter of a base hit with a snag while playing second base.

"I get a lot of practice at both positions [right field and second base] in practice," LaBarbera said. "I'm just staying ready."

On Friday, starting pitcher Jeff Leuenberger pitched six scoreless innings as the 49ers topped the Aggies, 8-1.

Wright and Jaeme Leal led the 49ers with three hits and two RBIs each. Dobbs and Mike Hota had two hits each for the Dirtbags.

Tonight, the 49ers will take on Loyola Marymount at Blair Field. The game is set to begin at 7:05 p.m.