Dirtbags Hold Off BYU Rally For 7-6 Victory

Saturday, February 28

Long Beach, Calif.

1:05 p.m.

Long Beach State University

4-6

BYU

6-5

BYU

Long Beach State

2/28/2026 5:06:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Long Beach State built a five-run cushion through the middle innings and withstood a late BYU surge to secure a 7-6 victory Saturday afternoon at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif.--Long Beach State earned its second win of the week over BYU, holding off a late rally to defeat the Cougars 7-6 on Saturday afternoon at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.

The Dirtbags improved to 4-6 overall after previously topping BYU 10-7 on Wednesday. Saturday's win was powered by extra-base hits and a strong seven-inning outing from Luke Howe.

BYU took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Ryder Robinson scored on a wild pitch and throwing error. Long Beach State answered in the second as Aaron Perez doubled to deep left field, bringing home Dylan Lina to tie the game.

After BYU regained the lead in the fifth on an RBI single from Luke Anderson, the Dirtbags responded with two runs in the bottom half. Matt Toomey doubled to center to score Lina, and Jake Evans followed with an RBI single to give Long Beach State a 3-2 advantage.

The Dirtbags created separation in the sixth. Camden Gasser and Trevor Goldenetz reached base to set the table for Smith Chandler, who delivered a two-run double to right field. Evans added his second RBI of the game with a run-scoring double later in the inning, pushing the lead to 6-2.

Long Beach State added an insurance run in the seventh when Chandler singled home Gasser to make it 7-2.

BYU mounted a four-run rally in the eighth, highlighted by a two-run home run from Ezra McNaughton, along with an RBI walk and a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to one. The bullpen held firm from there. Caleb Anderson recorded a key out in relief, and Ka'imi Kahalekai closed the door in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.

Howe (2-0) earned the win after allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits over seven innings while striking out three.

Offensively, Chandler led the Dirtbags with two hits and three RBI. Evans finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk, while Lina scored twice. Gasser reached base three times and scored two runs, continuing his disciplined start at the plate with 20 walks on the season, a mark that ranks among the NCAA leaders.

Long Beach State will conclude the weekend Sunday against Washington State at 12:05 p.m. at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.