The No. 16-ranked Dirtbags will take on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos this weekend for three games in Santa Barbara. The Dirtbags are 2.5 games ahead of UCSB in the Big West standings.
The Dirtbags have won nine consecutive games and also seventeen of their last nineteen. They have averaged 9.2 runs a game while batting .332 during their streak. The Gauchos of UCSB are coming off of a series victory over Cal State Fullerton last weekend as they won the final two games of the series 11-9 and 7-6.
The Dirtbags beat the San Diego State Aztecs Tuesday to extend their winning streak and win the season series with the Aztecs. First baseman Shane Peterson extended his hit streak to 21 games as he went 2-for-4. Center fielder Chris Nelson also went 2-for-4 with a two-run homerun in the fourth inning. Shortstop Danny Espinosa had a triple driving in one run to go 2-for-5 on the night. Southpaw pitcher Omar Arif (5-6) picked up the Dirtbag victory as he only allowed four hits in five innings while striking out two batters.
Second baseman Matt Cline (.349, 18 RBI), shortstop Danny Espinosa (.331, 32 RBI), and first baseman Shane Peterson (329, 32 RBI) will lead the Dirtbags’ offense against the UCSB pitching staff.
The Dirtbags have been moving on up in the rankings as they’re now in the No. 16 spot in the nation. The Dirtbag’s tough schedule against ranked teams this year has proven to be a test for the young squad. The Dirtbags have faced twelve teams that are currently or have been ranked at some point during the season. Four of those teams are currently in the top-10 (Rice, Texas, Arizona State, and Wichita State).
The Dirtbags (31-14, 9-2) will take on the UCSB Gauchos (21-22, 9-6) Friday at 2 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m., and on Sunday at 1 p.m. at UCSB’s Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. The Dirtbags are 43-21 against the Gauchos since 1989.
LBSU will send right-hander Manny McElroy (4-1, 3.79) to the mound Friday to battle the Gauchos. Andrew Liebel (7-2, 2.47) will take the hill on Saturday. The third starter is yet to be determined. The Gauchos will counter with Brian Tracy (1-2, 4.01) on Friday. Mike Ford (2-1, 6.13) will take the mound Saturday. Jeff Braun (2-6, 6.36) will pitch in the finale.
The Gauchos offense is lead by senior first baseman Robbie Blauer (.389, 35 RBI) who grew up in Huntington Beach. Second baseman Matt Valaika was named the Easton Big West Conference Player of the Week as he batted with a .333 average with four runs scored and four RBIs in the series against Fullerton.
The Dirtbags will take on Loyola Marymount Tuesday at Page Stadium in Los Angeles. Then they will come back home to take on the No. 17-ranked UC Riverside Highlanders for a three-game series at Blair Field.
