March 5, 2005
Box Score
WACO, Texas - Long Beach State broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the top of the fourth and Baylor never again could pull even as the Dirtbags defeated the 14th-ranked Bears 7-6 Saturday at Baylor Ballpark. Coupled with a 4-2 victory in Friday night's series opener, Long Beach State (11-6) clinches the series against Baylor (7-6).
The Dirtbags, who have won six straight overall and seven straight against Baylor, struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first. The Bears answered in the bottom of the first with a Josh Ford RBI ground out and a Zach Dillon RBI single.
Long Beach State was quick to answer, scoring a run in the top of the second on a Chris Jones two-out RBI single. Baylor pulled even with a run in the bottom of the third, but the Bears could have done more damage. Kyle Reynolds led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a Josh Ford single. Dillon then ran into bad luck when a check swing on the first pitch of his at bat produced a 6-4-3 double play on which Reynolds scored.
Sean Boatright, who was 4-for-4 on the day, put the Dirtbags ahead for good in the top of the fourth with a two-out double down the line in left. Long Beach State added another run in the fifth thanks to a Jones two-out RBI single.
That drove Baylor starter Cory VanAllen from the game as he suffered his first defeat in four career starts at Baylor Ballpark. VanAllen (2-2), who had not allowed in a run in 20.0 career innings as a starter at home entering the game, was touched for five runs on nine hits and a walk with one strikeout in 3.2 innings.
Baylor tried to rally on two occasions but could never again pull even. The Bears got a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth when Dillon laced a two-out double into the left-field corner, scoring Michael Griffin and Ford.
After LBSU pushed its lead to 7-5 in the top of the seventh, Chase Gerdes led off the Baylor half of the inning with a triple down the line in right. However, the Bears could manage only a Griffin RBI groundout as Brian Anderson and Neil Jamison combined to retire Baylor's final nine batters in order.
Long Beach State starter Marco Estrada (3-0) earned the victory; he allowed five runs, three earned, on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 5.0 innings.
Dillon finished the night 2-for-4 with three RBI. Gerdes was 2-for-5 and scored twice.
Baylor and Long Beach State conclude their three-game series Sunday with a noon first pitch at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears send right-hander Mark McCormick (0-1) to the mound opposite right-hander Jared Hughes (1-0).
NOTES: Long Beach State now leads the all-time series 9-2 and has won seven straight in the series. ... Saturday's game was the seventh one-run decision in 11 all-time meetings between Baylor and Long Beach State. ... Baylor falls to 3-1 this season in one-run games. ... Gerdes tied his career high with two runs scored. ... The nine hits and five earned runs are both the most ever allowed by VanAllen. ... Kevin Russo (four games), Dillon (four games) and Ford (three games) all extended hitting streaks. ... With two runs Saturday, Griffin now has 149 career runs and passes David Murphy (2001-03) for sole possession of 10th place all-time at Baylor. ... Griffin also produced his 170th career RBI, passing Marty Crawford (1993-96) and Chris Durbin (2000-03) for sole possession of fifth place all-time at Baylor.
