Long Beach Shuts Out Pacific With the Esperanza Connection

Marcus Jones pitched a two-hit shutout as Long Beach State defeated Pacific, 3-0, in a Big West Conference baseball game Saturday night at Blair Field.

Jones (5-3), a former Esperanza High standout, walked four and struck out 11.

Jason Hodges, another former Esperanza player who also starred at Cypress College, had three hits and a run batted in for the 49ers (20-12, 5-0). Long Beach State also got RBIs from Will Skett and Jeff Tagliaferri. Shortstop Jason Knupfer had two hits and scored a run for Long Beach.

Jason Flach didn’t pitch poorly for Pacific (17-12, 0-5). He gave up nine hits over eight innings and only gave up two for extra bases.

In the Golden State Athletic Conference:

Azusa Pacific 8-5, Concordia 3-4--Justin Conant hit the game-winning single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh as Azusa Pacific completed a sweep of Concordia (12-16-1, 5-11). Greg Folsom had two triples and three RBIs in the first game for Azusa Pacific (17-8, 12-4), which moves into first place ahead of Point Loma Nazarene.

Concordia’s Derrick Bly extended his hitting streak to 27 games with a double in the second game. Bly had a double and a triple in the first game.

In nonconference baseball:

CS Dominguez Hills 6, Southern California College 0--Four pitchers combined on a three-hitter for Dominguez Hills. Southern California College (10-24) was down by two runs entering the ninth, but reliever Joe Rivera gave up four runs on three hits and a walk to secure the victory.

Chapman 7, Pomona-Pitzer 2--Cale Shepherd went two for four with a home run and four RBIs for visiting Chapman (15-10). Mark Mazon (4-2) picked up the victory, giving up six hits and striking out four in seven innings.