Long Beach State Falls To No. 25 USC In Midweek Matchup At Dedeaux Field

Tuesday, March 10

Los Angeles, Calif.

6:30 PM

Long Beach State University

4-12

USC

16-0

Long Beach State

USC

Long Beach State Falls To No. 25 USC In Midweek Matchup At Dedeaux Field

3/10/2026 10:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Long Beach State trimmed the deficit to three runs in the fourth inning and stayed within striking distance into the late innings before No. 25 USC Trojans baseball secured a 6-1 win Tuesday night at Dedeaux Field.

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

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Long Beach State (4-12, 0-3) stayed within striking distance through the middle innings Tuesday night but fell 1-6 to No. 25 USC Trojans (16-0, 3-0) at Dedeaux Field, where USC is playing on its newly renovated home field during the 2026 season. The Dirtbags held the Trojans scoreless in five innings and received strong relief work after an early USC surge.

Long Beach State opened the night by matching USC through the first inning after Van Larson retired the Trojans in order, including a strikeout to begin the bottom half. USC broke through in the second when Kevin Takeuchi doubled and Andrew Lamb followed later in the inning with a three-run home run to right field for a 3-0 lead.

The Trojans added one more in the third after Abbrie Covarrubias led off with a ground-rule double and Maximo Martinez drove him in with a single to center, extending the lead to 4-0. Larson worked 2.2 innings before Brad Grindlinger entered to strand two runners and limit further damage in the inning.

The Dirtbags answered in the fourth. Jake Evans singled to center, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a flyout before Dylan Lina lined a two-out RBI single to right field, cutting the deficit to 4-1. Long Beach State threatened again in the sixth when Trevor Goldenetz singled and Evans reached after being hit by a pitch, putting two aboard with one out, but USC escaped the inning to hold the three-run advantage.

Long Beach State's bullpen kept USC quiet through the middle frames. Joey Iglesias delivered 2.2 hitless innings with two strikeouts, while Caleb Anderson added a scoreless seventh inning. USC added two insurance runs in the eighth on a sacrifice fly and RBI double before the Dirtbags were retired in order in the ninth.

Evans finished 1-for-2, scored the Dirtbags' lone run and reached base three times after being hit twice. Goldenetz and Lina also recorded hits, with Lina driving in Long Beach State's only run.

On the mound Long Beach State received effective bullpen work after the early innings, with Joey Iglesias and Caleb Anderson combining for 3.2 scoreless innings to keep the Dirtbags within reach late. Iglesias retired eight of the nine batters he faced over 2.2 hitless innings with two strikeouts, while Anderson added a clean seventh inning with one strikeout. Van Larson took the loss after allowing four runs over 2.2 innings, and Brad Grindlinger bridged the third by stranding inherited runners before Tyler Gebb worked the eighth inning.

Long Beach State returns to Big West Conference play this weekend against Hawai?i Rainbow Warriors baseball at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. First pitch for Friday's opener is scheduled for 6:05 p.m., with the game streaming on ESPN+.