Box Score

LMU led 3-2 headed into the bottom of the fifth inning, but a four-run fifth catapulted #24 Long Beach State (11-5) past the Lions (6-11) by a count of 6-4 on Tuesday night from Blair Field in Long Beach, Calif.

LMU got on the board first on Tuesday night, plating a run in the second inning on an RBI-double from freshman Steven Chavez. The double was the first of Chavez' career.

After an RBI-single from Jarren Duran drove home Tristan Mercadel to tie the game in the third, Long Beach took its first lead of the night on a home run from Luke Rasmussen in the fourth.

A two-run top of the fifth for LMU reclaimed the one-run Lion advantage, with the run-scoring blows coming on a pair of extra-base hits. Seaver Whalen got the momentum going with one out, shooting a single into centerfield before coming around to score on an RBI-triple from Austin Miller. With the infield drawn in, Miller was cut down at the plate on the ensuing play, but Cassidy Brown made sure the Lions cashed in on the inning, belting his sixth double of the year into the left-centerfield gap to push home the go-ahead run.

With the triple, Miller has now hit safely in nine straight games.

Blake Redman got the start for LMU, and he left with the lead, surrendering two runs on four hits over four innings, but the bullpen could not keep the lead in the fifth. Freshman Steven Skolarz entered in the fifth and did not record an out after facing three hitters. Pinch hitter David Banuelos singled to start the inning before Mercadel doubled to put runners at second and third. Garrett Hampson contributed the first run-scoring blow, lacing a two-RBI double into the gap in right-centerfield to put the Dirtbags back on top and chase Skolarz from the game. The hits kept coming for Long Beach following a call to the bullpen and a sacrifice bunt, as Alex Muzzi singled home Hampson before he eventually scampered home on an errant throw from second baseman Spencer Erdman.

LMU finished the game having committed three errors, including one charged to Brown on catcher's interference.

Trailing by three runs headed into the eighth, LMU cut the deficit to two on one swing of the bat from Jamey Smart. The left-hand hitter, batting as a pinch-hitter for Ted Boeke, belted his first career home run out to right field.

Freshman Chris Rivera locked up his seventh save of the year with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, including striking out Miller to end the game. Dave Smith got the start for Long Beach and eventually earned the victory after tossing 6.0 innings and allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts. The decision moved Smith to 2-1 on the year. Skolarz, after being charged with three runs, was tagged with his first loss of the season.

For Long Beach State, Mercadel, hitting out of ninth spot in the order, finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Brock Lundquist and Hampson also contributed a pair of hits. LMU received two-hit nights from Brown and Chavez, with both collecting an RBI-double.

LMU, which has dropped five straight games for the first time since dropping six straight from February 18 -- March 1, 2014, will look to get back in the wins column when it opens West Coast Conference play at home against Portland on Friday at 6 pm.