Dirtbags 2014 Out-Of-Conference Preview: part 3

Rounding out the OOC series previews are the road trips for the Dirtbags, which all feature opponents who traveled to Long Beach in 2013.

Wichita State (ISR: 92, RPI: 103) – Last year nearly turned into a nightmare of a season for our (partially) cross-country rival, who started the year dropping three games to Pittsburgh, then losing four games to the snow. However, the Shockers, rebounded to win 39 games and the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.

The Dirtbags have won their last three series against WSU, including a sweep in Blair Field last year, and a near-sweep in their 2012 trip to Eck Stadium. However, the 2014 Shockers could be a dangerous club, as they retain several key players including their top four hitters; 1B Casey Gillaspie (.299/.447/.517), C Tyler Baker (.328/.394/.466), OF Garrett Bayliff (.379/.439/.425), and 2B Tanner Dearman (.301/.404/.335); and their entire weekend rotation; closer-turned-starter RHP Cale Elam (3.17, 75/30, 93.2 IP), RHP A.J. Ladwig (4.54, 68/15, 85.1 IP), and RHP Garrett Brummett (1.16, 24/11, 38.2 IP). This experienced team will be lead by new Head Coach Todd Butler, former assistant and recruiting coordinator for two Omaha-bound Arkansas squads. Add the fact that this is easily the Dirtbags' longest road trip of the regular season, geographically speaking, and this could be another tough test for Troy Buckley's boys.

Arizona (ISR: 34, RPI: 59) – two game mid-week series – Long Beach State split two home mid-week games last season against the then-defending champion Wildcats. That series was the first test of the pitching depth for a team that had no healthy returning starters. Though the 2014 Dirtbags return LHPs Jake Stassi and Ryan Strufing, this two game set in Tucson could serve as a similar measuring stick for the rotation, with returners LHP Nick Sabo and RHP Ryan Millison (the starters from last year's series) and newcomers RHP Christian Belleque and LHP Cameron Pongs potentially getting the nods.

Most of the major players from the Wildcats' Omaha team are gone but they return a large portion of last year's lineup, including dynamic middle infielders 2B Trent Gilbert (.344/.407/.448) and SS Kevin Newman (.336/.398/.392). It will be interesting to see how the Dirtbag lineup, particularly players like Michael Hill and Richard Prigatano, approach hitting in Hi Corbett, where the speed/gap power combo remains U of A's M.O..

Cal State Fullerton (ISR: 2, RPI: 6) – In what is typically the final warmup before conference play, this series could be the Dirtbags' most difficult of the season as Fullerton is likely to be a top five team in the pre-season rankings. Some wins in this series would be a big boost to the RPI and would look great on LBSU's regional bid resume, but I don't really care about that.

After losing 22 of 25 to the Titans (3-15 in the Troy Buckley-era), the six meetings this season have to take on a greater significance. How Long Beach State performs on the road against likely one of the better Fullerton teams in recent years will serve as a strong indicator of the strength of the Dirtbag moniker.

They will be combated with one of the best rotations in the nation, RHP Thomas Eshelman (1.48, 83/3, 115.2 IP), RHP Justin Garza (2.03, 95/17, 115 IP) coming off all-universe freshman seasons, RHP Grahamm Wiest (3.27, 76/13, 104.2 IP), not to mention about 12 other All-Big West arms.

If there's a weakness to be found, it could be Fullerton's comparatively unproven lineup. Gone is a large portion of last year's lineup, including Big West players of the year Michael Lorenzen and Carlos Lopez, though they do retain legitimate conference POY candidates 1B JD Davis (.318/.407/.436) and 3B Matt Chapman (.285/.415/.457). Though the Titans always have a steady pipeline of talent, the 2014 outfield and shortstop positions will have a hard time replicating the production of their predecessors (not that they'd necessarily have to).

LBSU's best chance here is to be able to exploit that new-look lineup behind strong pitching and grind out some low-scoring victories.

It's regional or bust next year for Long Beach State, but while simply earning a bid would seem to make 2014 a successful enough campaign, if the Dirtbags can get through this gauntlet of a schedule there's no telling how they can go. The key, of course, will be surviving the regular season.  

Dirtbags 2014 Out-Of-Conference Preview: part 2

We opened our examination of Long Beach State's 2014 schedule by looking at schools like Vanderbilt, Arizona State, and UC Irvine. If that wasn't enough, we still have two teams left on the home schedule that are only coming off of College World Series qualifying, and College World Series winning, seasons.

Indiana (ISR: 12, RPI: 12) – The Hoosiers only traveled west of Omaha once last year, and that was all the way to Lincoln to take on the Cornhuskers. Yet in 2014 they'll be spending a weekend in Long Beach, their first trip to California since 2012 when they went 3-5 against Cal Sate Northridge, San Diego, and Loyola Marymount. Though they don't go west often, last year's IU team was well traveled, going to Florida four times, twice for tournaments, once to play the Gators (a series they won), and finally to face the Seminoles in the Super Regionals (a series they swept). Despite their somewhat improbable 2013 season, Indiana looks poised for a repeat, returning four of their five biggest workhorses from their pitching staff, including LHP Joey DeNato (2.52, 87/43, 103.2 IP), who tossed a shutout against Louisville in the College World Series.

On the hitting side, the Hoosiers return an experienced and well-balanced lineup, with good speed, solid power, and a strong ability to draw the walk and get on base. They're lead by All-Americans, C Kyle Schwarber (.366/.456/.647) and 3B Dustin DeMuth (.377/.433/.545), among several other returning starters from the 2013 lineup.

Between this, the Vanderbilt series, and the trip to Wichita (more on that later), the Dirtbags are going to have a well geographically-balanced schedule on their hands next spring.

UCLA (2013 ISR: 6; RPI: 9) – For the second consecutive season, the Dirtbags will host a series against the reigning national champions. UCLA small-balled their way to the title last year, hitting zero homers at TD Ameritrade Park, with something like 477 bunts. Such an offensive output could yield similarly successful results in spacious Blair Field, where the Bruins scrapped together a 3-2 mid-week win over the Dirtbags a year ago. Pitching was obviously UCLA's strength in 2013 and despite suffering some major losses to their championship staff, they return a solid crop of arms in 2014. Leading the way will be RHP Cody Poteet (4.84, 56/31, 70.2 IP), top prospect in the West Cost Summer League according to Perfect Game; LHP Grant Watson (3.01, 55/16, 92.2 IP), LHP Hunter Virant, and living legend RHP David Berg (0.92, 78/11, 78 IP, 24 saves).

The Bruins return the majority of its relatively light-hitting lineup, including OF Brian Carroll (32 steals) and it's top four leaders in sacrifice hits, meaning this series could quickly turn into a repeat of last June's Omaha bunt-a-thon. Also back is three-hitter 3B Kevin Kramer (.278/.382/.376), who had a team best four hits against LBSU last season.

In the Dirtbags' corner is that 11-1 victory over the Bruins at Jackie Robinson Stadium last year against an erratic Poteet; easily the worst loss of the Bruins' championship season.

Up next, we wrap up our look at the out-of-conference slate by looking at the foes Long Beach State will be facing on the road.