LOS ANGELES – The Dirtbags got revenge over Loyola Marymount University on Tuesday night at LMU’s Paige Stadium for the late-inning defeat they suffered against the Lions in April. Long Beach State (35-14) went on a crushing 21-run, 24-hit rampage to defeat the Lions (22-33-1).
The 21-2 win was not only the Dirtbags’ 13th consecutive win, but it also marked head coach Mike Weathers’ 500th career-win as a head coach. This is Weathers’ sixth year as the Dirtbags’ head coach. He was former Long Beach State head coach Dave Snow’s assistant, and came to LBSU after head coaching careers at the University of Utah and Chapman University, his alma mater.
“I think the important wins are the ones that I’ve had here,” Weathers said. “I like my Chapman days, and those were the days I learned how to coach. But these six years here, those are the important numbers.”
Weathers quoted John Wooden by saying a good coach makes good players. The numbers showed that Weathers obviously had the best players.
Jason Tweedy, who has struggled as of late, had a career-high day. After singling in his first at-bat, Tweedy then crushed a ball out of left-center field for a three-run homer, his first of the season. Tweedy then drove two in on a sacrifice fly and singled to drive in one more.
“I was just thinking about hitting the ball hard,” Tweedy said. “I’ve been feeling real confident the past week or so. Before, when I was struggling, I was thinking too much at the plate. I wasn’t really thinking about it today.”
Tweedy went 4-for-5 with a career-high six RBIs, only two away from tying LBSU’s record of most RBIs in a game.
This week’s Big West Player of the Week Chris Nelson continued his hot streak. Nelson came into Tuesday’s game riding a four-game homerun streak. Although his streak ended, Nelson continued to bang out hits for the Dirtbags. Nelson got LBSU on the board early in the first inning. TJ Mittelstaedt walked to lead off the inning. With Mittelstaedt on first, Nelson ripped a double to right field, scoring Mittelstaedt. Nelson finished going 5-for-6 with three runs and one RBI.
“What was good for us was Nelson stayed hot and Tweedy swung the bat real good, and I also thought Matt Cline swung the bat,” Weathers said. “I thought that was good for us. Going into the series [against UC Riverside], it helps me make some decisions. Those are the positives when you have these kinds of games, as long as we don’t have guys going 0-for-7.”
The Dirtbags had their second grand slam in a row when AJ Pinocchio slugged his first homerun of the season in the top of the eighth.
“I actually hit one in little league,” Pinocchio said.”I knew I hit it pretty good. I saw the outfielder going back. I figured at least it was going to get over his head.”
After the win, Matt Cline and Brandon Godfrey celebrated Weathers’ milestone with the customary Gatorade shower.
“It was [a little unexpected]. I didn’t have any idea,” Weathers said. “They got me on that one.”
