Anderson keeps the Dirtbags at bay

Just one week after being named Big West Pitcher of the Week, Long Beach State pitcher Andrew Gagnon was bested by pitcher Tyler Anderson and the Oregon Ducks, 5-0.

 Courtesy of Mark Ylen/Democrat-Herald

Anderson, who is expected to be a first-round pick this coming MLB draft, went eight shutout innings, striking out 14 and walking three.

Gagnon, meanwhile, gave up only one earned run in five innings yet continuously found himself in trouble, giving up five walks. The Dirtbags’ right-hander allowed two or more runners on base in every inning, but the first inning.

"They got [Andrew’s] pitch count up and he didn’t do a very good job of keeping the ball down”, said Troy Buckley, LBSU head coach. “[Andrew] made some pitches when he needed to, but [Oregon] made him work.

Anderson mowed down the Dirtbags, allowing only six hits while giving up no runs.

“[Anderson] pitched good”, said Buckley. “I thought [Anderson’s] change up allowed him to do some things.
He got ahead with the fastball and we chased a lot of pitches.”

The closest the dirtbags came to scoring was in the fifth inning when LBSU utility player Ino Patron singled to start off the inning. Shortstop Kirk Singer followed with a single to left field where both Patron and Singer advanced one base due to a bad throw. The Ducks’ Anderson followed that up by striking out three out of the four next Dirtbags batters. The only non-strikeout was the intentional walk to LBSU centerfielder Brennan Metzger. 

The Ducks scored four of their five runs in the eighth inning when the Dirtbags committed two errors. Utility player Johnny Bekakis misplayed a ball in right field hit by Ducks’ outfielder Aaron Jones with the bases loaded that allowed all runners to score. Dirtbags infielder Matt Duffy then fumbled the next hit ball to allow Jones to trot across the plate to push the score 5-0 in favor of the Oregon Ducks.

Overall, the Dirtbags committed three errors with the other coming in the fourth inning on a Jeff McNeil miscue. Ducks second baseman Danny Pulfer hit a ground ball right to McNeil who couldn’t handle it and it went into right field.

“The miscues you have to stop so you can give yourself a chance to win [the ballgame] we didn’t stop”, Buckley said.

Patron led the Dirtbags’ offense going 2 for 2 and one walk.