CS Long Beach Loses Two in Texas, Is Eliminated

Cal State Long Beach began the NCAA Division I baseball playoffs hoping its potent offense would compensate for a thin pitching staff.

The 49ers got solid performances from their hitters and pitchers in the first two games of the Central Regional, but Sunday they failed before 7,200 at Disch-Falk Field.

Texas beat Long Beach, 9-1, in the afternoon and Virginia Commonwealth eliminated the 49ers with a 16-6 victory in the evening.

“I knew on paper we didn’t have the pitching to win a regional,” Long Beach Coach Dave Snow said. “We would have needed some guys to come out of the woodwork for us to win this thing.”

Virginia Commonwealth, making only its second appearance in the playoffs, must defeat Texas twice in today’s championship round to prevent the Longhorns from making their 26th trip to the College World Series.

Long Beach, which had beaten Southwestern Louisiana and Creighton to advance to the winner’s bracket, finished the season 36-21-1.

Texas sophomore right-hander Brooks Kieschnick (10-1) gave up six hits and had a season-high 10 strikeouts.

Longhorn third baseman Clay King broke open a scoreless game with a three-run double against Eric Gruben (3-5) during the fifth inning. Texas scored four runs during the sixth.

Longhorn outfielder Calvin Murray had five hits and drove in two runs. He is 10 for 11 in Texas’ three victories.

Virginia Commonwealth (34-21) earned the opportunity to play Long Beach by eliminating Creighton, 5-4, in 11 innings.

Long Beach freshman Tim Dixon (0-1) took a 3-1 lead into the third against Virginia Commonwealth, but was chased during a three-run rally by the Rams.

Virginia Commonwealth then got 12 runs during the fourth on five hits, seven walks, two 49er errors and a wild pitch.

“Losing to Texas took a lot of wind out of our sails,” the 49ers’ Jason Giambi said. “Against Virginia Commonwealth, everything just went their way.”