TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1999

Dirtbags take two

By Arnold V. Cruz

On-Line Forty-Niner

As Cal State Fullerton wrapped up the season with the Big West Conference title and the NCAA automatic playoff berth, the Long Beach State baseball team can only hope to take second place and an at-large berth into the NCAA tournament.

The third place 49ers (30-19, 17-9 Big West) won two of three games at Cal State Sacramento (16-38, 6-21 Big West) last weekend and trail second-place Nevada by one game in the Big West.

Riding a seven-game winning streak into Sunday's game, the Dirtbags fell in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Hornets a 11-10 victory at Hornet Field.

Hornets' left fielder Rick Gonzalez singled to left field to score Jesse Krebs from third base in the bottom of the 10th inning to end the game.

The Dirtbags took a 10-8 lead into the bottom of the ninth. But closer Jeremy Ward gave up two runs in the inning allowing the Hornets to tie the score.

The 49ers breezed by the Hornets on Saturday afternoon with a 14-4 victory.

Friday afternoon, the Dirtbags pulled away with a 6-3 victory over the Hornets with three runs in the seventh inning.

The Dirtbags next game is Friday against Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton.