Bekakis hits the game winner

Courtesy of Stephen Carr/Long Beach State Athletics

Johnny Bekakis’ pinch hit single to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning drove in the winning run as the Long Beach State baseball team stole a win from the USC Trojans Tuesday night at Blair Field, 5-4.  

“I got my pitch, slowed myself down and found the hole [between first and second]”, Bekakis said. “I knew [the pitcher] was just as nervous as I was, it was a big situation.”

The win marks the first LBSU walk-off win of the year as they used 21 players off their 37 man roster. 

“It was a good win for [us]”, said Troy Buckley, head coach. “Over time we have to execute better in all areas, but tonight it didn’t kill us. When they gave us a blow, we gave them a blow and we fought back.”

 Before the Dirtbags’ winning run in the ninth, the Trojans had tied the game in the seventh inning with two runs off of two LBSU pitchers. After Trojans center fielder Omar Cotto Lozada hit an inflied single to Singler, Dirtbags’ pitcher Austin Boyle’s wild pitch allowed Lozada to score from third base.

The second run of the inning was scored off of Dirtbags pitcher Shawn Stuart (1-0), but credited to Boyle. After Stuart threw a wild pitch of his own, USC second baseman Joe De Pinto singled home catcher Kevin Roundtree.

De Pinto’s hit was the last hit Stuart would surrender on his way to earning the win, his first of the season. Stuart tallied a total of two and 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking one.

Dirtbags starting pitcher Kyle Friedrichs threw four and 2/3 innings, giving up one earned run and striking out four, before pitcher Ryan Struffing came on in relief.

“He really pitched [well] even after we gave them some opportunities”, said Buckley. “I thought [Friedrichs] threw the ball pretty darn good.”

Leading the Dirtbags offense was third baseman Mike Marjama who went 2-for-4 with one Run Batted In. The RBI came in the sixth inning when Marjama looped a double into left field. 

Trojans starting pitcher Ben Mount matched Friedrich’s effort with five strong innings of his own. Mount struck out four LBSU batters over five innings.