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LONG BEACH STATE NOTEBOOK / JASON REID : Snow Savors the Good Feeling of Winning

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Coach Dave Snow has been involved with college baseball long enough to know that three-game winning streaks don’t necessarily signal a burgeoning power.

But with the mediocre season Long Beach is having so far, Snow will gladly embrace the slightest sign of progress. And a winning streak, albeit a small one, definitely counts.

The 49ers gave their coach something to feel good about with a three-game Big West Conference sweep of 14th-ranked Nevada. “That was a huge shot in the arm,” Snow said. “Obviously, we desperately needed that. We got a heck of an effort.”

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Power and hitting were the keys in the opener as the 49ers won, 11-9. It was Long Beach’s second-highest run total this season.

Right-hander Kyle Wilson was strong in the second game, helping the 49ers to a 3-2 victory. All-American pitcher Scott Rivette benefited from some solid defense and timely hitting in the finale. Long Beach didn’t commit an error, helping Rivette (3-3) win.

The 49ers (15-11-1, 3-0 in the Big West) are alone atop the conference standings. But being in first place isn’t very comforting to Snow. At least not right now.

“It’s only one weekend, so it’s still a little premature,” Snow said. “We’re starting to come around, but the verdict is still out on Long Beach State.”

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Strong-armed duo: Wilson and left-hander Gabe Gonzalez provide quality relief pitching.

Wilson (6-2) has appeared in 12 games, 10 in relief. Opponents are hitting .237 against him and he has given up 12 earned runs in 36 innings for a 3.00 ERA.

Gonzalez, an All-American closer, is 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA. He has six saves in 17 appearances and 42 strikeouts in 28 innings.

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Big West race: Despite their problems, the 49ers should, as usual, be a major factor in the conference.

Under Snow, Long Beach has won the Big West title outright or shared it four times (1989, ‘92, ’93 and ‘94). Snow said Cal State Fullerton is the team to beat right now.

“Fullerton has gone off and separated from every college baseball team,” Snow said. “They’ve done a great job, but the conference is solid from top to bottom.”

The 49ers will play host the first Big West tournament (May 12-14) at Blair Field. The tournament winner receives the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

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Coaching perspective: Seth Greenberg wants it made known that USC and Nevada Las Vegas pursued him for their basketball coaching positions--not the other way around. Greenberg is a little offended because some at Long Beach believe he didn’t treat his employer as well as he could have when other suitors appeared.

Greenberg shouldn’t get too indignant, however. Administration sources said he kept Athletic Director Dave O’Brien waiting while deciding whether to sign an upgraded contract offer. Greenberg wanted to see what developed with UNLV, which is his right.

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But Greenberg could have handled the situation more expediently. Greenberg is extremely hard-working and ambitious, and this won’t be the last time he considers leaving Long Beach.

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Fab seven? Maybe not quite yet, but softball Coach Pete Manarino is encouraged by the potential of the 49ers’ freshman class. Five of the seven freshmen play regularly.

Notes

The men’s volleyball team split its two matches last week. The 49ers (14-6, 9-6 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) play host to Hawaii on Thursday and Friday. . . . The women’s tennis team dropped to 6-10 with two losses last week. . . . The softball team had three victories in four games last week. Long Beach (17-16, 2-4 in the Big West) plays host to Pacific in a doubleheader Friday.

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