Dirtbags Drop Opener to Pittsburgh at Kleberg Bank College Classic

Friday, February 20

Corpus Christi, Texas

1 p.m. CT

Long Beach State University

1-3

Pittsburgh

2-1

Long Beach State

Pittsburgh

Dirtbags Drop Opener to Pittsburgh at Kleberg Bank College Classic

2/20/2026 3:05:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Long Beach State and Pittsburgh were tied through six innings before the Panthers broke the game open late, defeating the Dirtbags 6-2 Friday in the opening game of the Kleberg Bank College Classic.

By: Cianna Smith-Andrews, Assistant Director, Athletic Communications

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, Long Beach State took a lead into the late innings before Pittsburgh scored four times over the final three frames to defeat the Dirtbags 6-2 Friday in the opening game of the Kleberg Bank College Classic.

The Dirtbags struck first in the third inning. Trevor Goldenetz reached and Camden Gasser came around to score when Trotter Enright lined a single to left field, giving Long Beach State a 1-0 advantage. Pittsburgh answered in the bottom half on a wild pitch to even the score at 1-1.

Long Beach State regained the lead in the sixth. Enright scored on an infield single by Easton Elliot, who beat out a play at short to drive in the run and put the Dirtbags back in front, 2-1. Enright finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to pace the offense, while Goldenetz added a hit and a run. Elliot's RBI knock accounted for the second run as the Dirtbags totaled eight hits and left nine runners on base.

Pittsburgh responded again in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on a throwing error during a pickoff attempt to tie the game at 2-2. The Panthers then broke it open in the seventh, using a sacrifice fly and an RBI double to take a 4-2 lead. Two more runs crossed in the eighth on an RBI double and a pair of wild pitches to account for the 6-2 final.

Jake Fields started and worked 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out five and walking five on 97 pitches. Van Larson (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing two runs in 0.2 innings in the seventh. Caleb Anderson followed with 0.2 innings, surrendering two runs while striking out two, and Alex Ramos recorded the final two outs to close the game. The Long Beach State bullpen combined for 2.0 innings as Pittsburgh finished with seven hits.

Long Beach State will continue tournament play Saturday against host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, with first pitch set for 4 p.m. PT.