Seattle University held the lead going into the late innings, but Long Beach State was able to touch up the Redhawk bullpen for a comeback 4-3 victory Saturday afternoon in a collegiate baseball contest at Blair Field.
Down 3-1 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, Long Beach State started its rally when Juan Avila was hit by a pitch, and Ino Patron followed with a single. Eric Yardley (Richland, Wash.) came on in relief of Seattle U starter Ted Hammond (Shoreline, Wash.) and induced a force out, but Richard Prigatano sent a single through the right side to drive in Patron, cutting the Redhawk lead in half.
In the ninth inning, Eric Hutting led off with a single up the middle. Colton Vaughn came on as a pinch runner, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored the game-tying run on a single to center field by pinch hitter Zack Belanger. A single by Jeff McNeil, plus an off-target throw, put runners on second and third, forcing the Redhawks to intentionally walk Avila to load the bases. Garrett Anderson (Kennewick, Wash.) replaced Yardley, but Patron hit his first pitch through the right side for the walkoff win.
Seattle U got things going in the third inning, as Ben Ruff (Fife, Wash.) singled up the middle, followed by walks to Landon Cray (Chimacum, Wash.) and Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.) to load the bases. Everyone advanced one base, including Ruff coming home, on a passed ball, and Cray would follow with the second run of the inning when Long Beach State starter Landon Hunt committed a balk.
The score would remain the same until the bottom of the seventh inning when Zack Rivera singled, advanced to second on a ground out, and came around to score when Seattle U made a fielding error after notching the second out. Seattle U reestablished its two-run lead when Chase Fields (Ontario, Ore.) led off with an infield single, stole second base, advanced to third on a flyout, and scored on a single by Brian Olson (Black Diamond, Wash.).
Hammond enjoyed his second straight quality start, allowing just five hits, one walk, and two runs, one of them earned, in 7 1/3 innings of work. Logan Lombana earned the victory for Long Beach State after setting down the Redhawks in order in the top of the ninth inning.
The Redhawk offense was held to four hits during the game, while Long Beach State earned 10 hits during the game, led by three from Prigatano and two by Patron.
Seattle University (2-9) will face Long Beach State in the rubber game of the weekend series Sunday, March 3, starting at 1 p.m. Dan Giuliani will broadcast the game on GoSeattleU.com, starting with the pregame show at approximately 12:40 p.m.