Many things are responsible for Long Beach State’s surge on the Big West Conference baseball front. The fine hitting of junior outfielder/first baseman Lucas Tancas is one, the pitching of senior right-hander Dave Smith is another.
The pitching staff as a whole might be most responsible for the Dirtbags winning six consecutive games and 10 of their past 12. They are 20-11 overall, 5-1 and tied with Cal State Fullerton atop the conference standings, and Monday they moved from No. 19 to No. 12 in the Baseball America Top 25.
Long Beach State’s staff ERA is 3.