By snoadmin
The ever-relentless Mike Weathers wasn’t kidding around when he created the Dirtbags’ 2008 schedule.
Starting out with back-to-back series against top-10 opponents, perennial powerhouses Rice and Wichita State, the schedule didn’t let up with strong WAC and Pac-10 opponents Hawaii and Southern California. When bringing up the high-difficulty level of the schedule, Weathers now jokingly says, “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
But Weathers knew exactly what he was thinking – he was thinking his Long Beach State baseball team would roll over their opponents, just as they have. And if they didn’t roll over them, it was a way for his team, which much of is still relatively young, to face intense competition and a high-level of baseball. And this weekend, they will face just that in a pivotal three-game series against No. 11 UCLA.
Perhaps the most highly-anticipated non-conference matchup, the two teams will meet for the first time since last June, when UCLA eliminated the Dirtbags from the postseason at the Long Beach Regional.
The winning pitcher of the game, LHP Tim Murphy, will square off on the mound Friday night against Dirtbag ace Andrew Liebel. Both pitchers match up fairly similar, and both have been absolutely lights-out.
Liebel (1-0) comes into the game with a 1.11 ERA and has given up just four earned runs in four starts over 32.1 innings. Opponents are batting just .175 against the righty and his 36 strikeouts is by far No. 1 on the team. Murphy (2-0) has amassed a 2.35 ERA over 30.2 innings. Opponents are batting .234 against him and the southpaw has punched out 32 batters on the season. Both pitchers have pitched a complete game this season, both ending in wins.
However, UCLA falls somewhat short when it comes to pitching. The Bruins own a staff ERA of 4.35, and have just one pitcher, Justin Uribe, who has yet to give up an earned run, wheras the most opponents have yet to get to the majority of the Dirtbag relievers.
Seven LBSU relievers combine for 23.9 scoreless innings. Setup guys David Roberts and Dustin Rasco continue to cruise, with Roberts turning in solid innings almost daily and Rasco working a nasty, sharp-moving breaking ball for strikeouts. Closers Bryan Shaw and Nick Vincent have effectively shut out all opponents faced as well.
Defense will make all the difference. The Bruins are dangerous on the basepath, having swiped 32 bags in 39 attempts, and their starting nine are hitting deep. Alden Carrithers leads UCLA, hitting .444 with two doubles, three triples, one homer and a team-leading 13 RBIs. Carrithers, the Bruins No. 2 hitter, has one of the most proficient batting eyes in the Pac-10, ranking high last season in hits, walks, hit by pitches and on-base percentage.
Other deep threats in the Bruin lineup are Cody Decker, Jermaine Curtis and Gabe Cohen. Cohen’s four homers and 15 RBIs lead the Bruins.
The Dirtbag offense just hit their stride, with Peterson and Corder coming alive and going deep, and freshman catcher John Hill making the most of each start, putting in solid performances and getting big hits with each appearance made.
The series will open at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles Friday night, and will continue with a doubleheader Saturday at Blair Field.
