Dirtbags Clinch Series Behind Another Lina Blast And Gerfers’ Complete Game

Sunday, March 15

Long Beach, Calif.

1:05 p.m.

Long Beach State University

6-13, 2-4

Hawai'i

10-9, 1-5

Hawaii

Long Beach State

Dirtbags Clinch Series Behind Another Lina Blast And Gerfers’ Complete Game

3/15/2026 5:16:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Dylan Lina homered and freshman Jason Gerfers finished off a complete-game effort as Long Beach State held on for a 2-1 win over Hawai‘i on Sunday at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Dylan Lina provided the early spark and Jason Gerfers carried it through nine innings as Long Beach State (6-13, 2-4 Big West) claimed the series with a 2-1 win over Hawai'i (10-9, 1-5 Big West) on Sunday afternoon at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field, closing out the final regular-season meeting between the programs as Big West rivals.

Lina opened scoring in the second inning when he drove a solo home run to deep left field for his fifth homer of the season and second this series, giving the Dirtbags a 1-0 lead. Long Beach State threatened to add more in the inning after Matt Toomey was hit by a pitch and Smith Chandler walked, but Hawai'i worked out of the jam with consecutive strikeouts to keep it a one-run game.

Gerfers was sharp early, retiring the first nine batters he faced and striking out back-to-back hitters in the third as the freshman cruised through three scoreless innings. Hawai'i broke through in the fourth when Ben Zeigler-Namoa singled and Elijah Ickes followed with an RBI single to center that tied the game at 1-1. Conner Stewart then cut down Zeigler-Namoa trying to advance to third, limiting the damage and preserving the tie.

Long Beach State answered immediately in the fifth. Trevor Goldenetz drew a leadoff walk, and Jake Evans doubled to put runners at second and third with one out. After Dylan Lina was intentionally walked to load the bases, Matt Toomey lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Goldenetz for the go-ahead run and a 2-1 Dirtbags advantage.

From there, Gerfers controlled the game. He worked around a single in the sixth, stranded a walk and stolen base in the seventh, then struck out two looking in a clean eighth inning. In the ninth, Hawai'i mounted one final threat when Zeigler-Namoa singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a flyout moved the tying run to third with two outs, Gerfers induced a ground ball to second from Kody Watanabe to end the game and seal Long Beach State's first conference series victory of the season.

Gerfers (1-1) became the first Dirtbags freshman to throw a complete game since 2022 and recorded the program's first complete game of the 2026 season. He allowed four hits, one earned run, and two walks while striking out seven over 123 pitches in his first win of the year.

Evans finished 1-for-3 with a double, walk and stolen base, while Lina went 1-for-2 with his fifth home run of the season, an RBI, and two walks after Hawai'i intentionally walked him later in the game following his early home run. Matt Toomey added the game-winning RBI on a sacrifice fly, Stewart contributed a single and a walk, and the Dirtbags secured their second straight Big West win by taking two of three from Hawai'i.

Long Beach State will return to Bohl Diamond at Blair Field on Tuesday for a midweek matchup against the LMU Lions, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m.