Sunday, March 9
Irvine, Calif.
1:00 p.m.
Long Beach State University
11-4, 1-2
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UC Irvine
6-9, 2-1
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9
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Long Beach State
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4
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UC Irvine
3
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6
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10
6
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Photo by: Photos by Izzy J
UC Irvine Defeats The Dirtbags In Final Game Of Series
3/9/2025 3:40:00 PM | Baseball
The Anteaters scored nine runs in the first four innings
IRVINE, Calif.—No. 18/25 UC Irvine defeated Long Beach State 10-1 in the final game of the 2025 Black and Blue Baseball Rivalry Sunday afternoon at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark.
Armando Briseno's two-out RBI single in the top of the first scored Kyle Ashworth, breaking the seal for the Dirtbags. The first two batters reached base in the bottom of the first for the Anteaters before Anthony Martinez hit a three-run home run to right to give UCI the lead.
Long Beach State starter Ka'imi Kahalekai retired seven in row after the home run before giving up a walk in the third. He quickly retired the next two UCI batters.
Kahalekai hit Jacob McCombs and walked Rowan Felsch to begin the fourth. He bounced back to strike out Zach Fjelstad for the first out. Kahalekai's first pitch to James Castagnola went to the backstop for a wild pitch, allowing both runners to advance a base. With the Dirtbags playing in, a second Kahalekai wild pitch allowed McCombs to score. Castagnola walked to give UCI runners on the corners.
With the count 0-1 on Blake Penso, Tyler Gebb relieved Kahalekai. In his attempt to bunt, Penso fouled off his second try to make the count 2-2. Penso was patient and worked out a walk to load the bases. Will Bermudez hit a fly ball to left that was lost in the sun by the Long Beach State outfield, allowing a run to score. Yeaman tripled to left center to clear the bases, making the score 8-1. Martinez reached on error as the ninth run came home. Call flew out to right for the second out. McCombs was hit for the second time in the inning to keep the inning alive for the Anteaters. Felsch struck out to end the inning.
Castagnola's two-out double in the bottom of the seventh scored Fjelstad from first to allow UCI to reach double figures.
UC Irvine starter Trevor Hansen retired 10 Dirtbags in a row at one point, with six straight coming via strikeout during that span. He ended his outing with nine strikeouts in seven innings. He limited Long Beach State to two hits and walked two. Ryder Brooks and David Butler finished the game for the Anteaters. The duo allowed two hits over the final two innings.
UC Irvine (11-4, 2-1 Big West) scored their first nine runs on only four hits, taking advantage of four LBSU walks, two hit batters, and two wild pitches. UCI ended the game with six hits.
Long Beach State (6-9, 1-2 Big West) hosts Pepperdine (3-13). ESPN+ coverage begins Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
~#LongBeachBuilt~
Armando Briseno's two-out RBI single in the top of the first scored Kyle Ashworth, breaking the seal for the Dirtbags. The first two batters reached base in the bottom of the first for the Anteaters before Anthony Martinez hit a three-run home run to right to give UCI the lead.
Long Beach State starter Ka'imi Kahalekai retired seven in row after the home run before giving up a walk in the third. He quickly retired the next two UCI batters.
Kahalekai hit Jacob McCombs and walked Rowan Felsch to begin the fourth. He bounced back to strike out Zach Fjelstad for the first out. Kahalekai's first pitch to James Castagnola went to the backstop for a wild pitch, allowing both runners to advance a base. With the Dirtbags playing in, a second Kahalekai wild pitch allowed McCombs to score. Castagnola walked to give UCI runners on the corners.
With the count 0-1 on Blake Penso, Tyler Gebb relieved Kahalekai. In his attempt to bunt, Penso fouled off his second try to make the count 2-2. Penso was patient and worked out a walk to load the bases. Will Bermudez hit a fly ball to left that was lost in the sun by the Long Beach State outfield, allowing a run to score. Yeaman tripled to left center to clear the bases, making the score 8-1. Martinez reached on error as the ninth run came home. Call flew out to right for the second out. McCombs was hit for the second time in the inning to keep the inning alive for the Anteaters. Felsch struck out to end the inning.
Castagnola's two-out double in the bottom of the seventh scored Fjelstad from first to allow UCI to reach double figures.
UC Irvine starter Trevor Hansen retired 10 Dirtbags in a row at one point, with six straight coming via strikeout during that span. He ended his outing with nine strikeouts in seven innings. He limited Long Beach State to two hits and walked two. Ryder Brooks and David Butler finished the game for the Anteaters. The duo allowed two hits over the final two innings.
UC Irvine (11-4, 2-1 Big West) scored their first nine runs on only four hits, taking advantage of four LBSU walks, two hit batters, and two wild pitches. UCI ended the game with six hits.
Long Beach State (6-9, 1-2 Big West) hosts Pepperdine (3-13). ESPN+ coverage begins Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
~#LongBeachBuilt~
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hansen, Trevor (2-0)
L: Kahalekai, Ka’imi (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Elliot, Easton 1
RBI: Briseno, Armando 1
SH: Champagne, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ashworth, Kyle 1
HBP: Champagne, Alex 1
Batting:
2B: Castagnola, James 1
3B: Yeaman, Colin 1
HR: Martinez, Anthony 1
RBI: Bermudez, Will 1 ; Yeaman, Colin 3 ; Martinez, Anthony 4 ; Castagnola, James 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bermudez, Will 2 ; Yeaman, Colin 2 ; Martinez, Anthony 1 ; McCombs, Jacob 1 ; Felsch, Rowan 1 ; Fjelstad, Zach 1 ; Castagnola, James 1 ; Penso, Blake 1
HBP: Yeaman, Colin 1 ; McCombs, Jacob 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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