The bats were once again relatively quiet at Blair Field Tuesday night, at least on the part of the No. 10 Dirtbags (2-2) that continued their offensive struggles and fell to the No. 18 San Diego Toreros (2-2) at Blair Field.
Long Beach State was out-hit by San Diego 10-5, and stranded five runners. Danny Espinosa continued to play hero to the Dirtbags, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs and a walk. Kip Masuda went 1-for-4 with a triple and a run, and Devin Lohman, Shane Peterson and Taylor Krick each drove in one run apiece for LBSU.
Starting pitching lacked, as RHP Manny McElroy had a rocky start. McElroy surrendered five earned runs off six hits and walked two over three and 2/3 innings, throwing just 76 pitches.
“He deserved [the start] today, but we’ll have to see where we’re going to go after this,” said Dirtbags head coach Mike Weathers. “Tuesdays are really important. We’ve got to make sure we do something to give us a chance to win. I thought he was the guy who would try for it today.”
McElroy surrendered his first earned run to Victory Sanchez with a solo shot to lead off the second inning. While McElroy managed to get himself out of the second without much damage, he took a pounding in the third, starting with another home run by Sanchez. This time it was a two-run bomb that sparked a four-run inning for the Toreros.
Four relievers combined to hold the Toreros scoreless, but the offense was fanned time after time, and the Dirtbags were unable to come from behind for the win. Tyler Topp took the bulk of the relief, and although he did get runners on, putting himself in tight situations, he managed to get himself out of each time, remaining scoreless throughout.
“I didn’t have command of my fastball at first,” Topp said. “But I worked my way out of a jam and the next few innings got a little bit more under control.”
Weathers was impressed with Topp’s first performance as a Dirtbag.
“I really liked what Topp did,” Weathers said. “He and McElroy were going to split this. So, it’s interesting – they’re kind of in competition with each other.”
Topp transferred this season from Riverside Community College with a decorated junior college record. The righty’s name has been tossed around to start, and ultimately it was given to McElory this week, but Weathers said his performance against the Toreros could possibly merit other starts.
Topp said he welcomes pitching any innings, beginning, middle or end.
“I feel comfortable wherever they put me,” Topp said. “As long as I’m getting some innings in and helping the team out.”
The Dirtbags face No. 7 Wichita state in a three-game series beginning Friday at Blair Field.
