Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
UC Irvine
Dirtbags Open Black and Blue Rivalry Series Against UC Irvine
3/26/2026 4:10:00 PM | Baseball
Long Beach State opens a three-game Big West home series Friday
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Long Beach State returns home this weekend for the Black and Blue Rivalry Series, hosting UC Irvine for a three-game Big West set at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Friday as the Dirtbags look to build off Sunday's road win at Cal State Bakersfield and carry momentum into another conference weekend series.
LEADING OFF
• The 72nd season of Long Beach State baseball continues this weekend with the Dirtbags hosting UC Irvine in a three-game Black and Blue Rivalry Series at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. Friday and Saturday's first pitch is set for 6:05 p.m., with Sunday's finale scheduled for 1 p.m.
• Friday night's opener will stream on ESPN+ and includes a bucket hat giveaway presented by MemorialCare. Sunday's series finale will also stream on ESPN+ and features the second Bark in the Park this season.
• Long Beach State enters the weekend at 8-16 overall and 3-6 in Big West play, while UC Irvine comes in at 9-15 overall and 1-5 in conference action.
STARTING PITCHERS
Graduate right-hander Caleb Anderson draws Friday's start after appearing in 12 games and striking out 23 across 22.1 innings. Anderson enters the weekend seeking his first win after working in both starting and relief roles early this season.
Freshman right-hander Luke Howe takes the mound Saturday after emerging as one of the Dirtbags' most consistent weekend starters. Howe owns a 3-1 record with a 5.15 ERA across 36.2 innings and has recorded 23 strikeouts through six starts.
Freshman right-hander Jason Gerfers will start Sunday after earning back-to-back Big West Pitcher of the Week honors. Gerfers enters with a 3.28 ERA, two complete games and a .192 opponent batting average through his first seven collegiate appearances.
THIS AND THAT
• Trevor Goldenetz continues to lead the Big West in batting average at .398 and hits with 35 while ranking first in stolen bases with nine and fifth in on-base percentage at .509. Jake Evans ranks fourth in the conference at .385 and second in on-base percentage at .517. Camden Gasser sits third in the Big West with a .515 on-base percentage and leads the conference with 25 walks.
• Dylan Lina remains one of the conference's top run producers, ranking second in the Big West with 27 RBI and five home runs. Matt Toomey leads the Big West with four sacrifice flies and ranks second with 13 hit by pitches.
• On the mound, Gerfers ranks sixth in the Big West in ERA and fifth in opponent batting average, while Jake Fields remains among conference leaders in opponents' batting .198 against him.
GERFERS EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
• Gerfers earned a spot on the Baseball America Week 6 Team of the Week after his second complete game of the season in Sunday's 5-1 win at Cal State Bakersfield.
• Against the Roadrunners, Gerfers allowed one run on four hits while striking out 12 over 135 pitches. He worked around a solo home run in the fourth inning and closed the final five innings without allowing another run.
• The freshman has now thrown two complete games in his first seven collegiate appearances, while holding opposing hitters to a .192 batting average.
FRESHMEN WEEKEND IMPACT
Long Beach State remains one of the few Big West programs relying heavily on freshman starters during conference weekends, with Howe and Gerfers continuing to anchor two spots in the rotation.
Howe has already collected three wins this season, while Gerfers has delivered two complete games and consecutive conference weekly honors in the first month of Big West play.
LAST TIME OUT
Long Beach State closed last weekend's road series at Cal State Bakersfield with a 5-1 win behind Gerfers' complete game. Trevor Goldenetz collected two hits, while Long Beach State scored four runs in the third inning to build early separation.
The Dirtbags dropped the first two games of the series before rebounding Sunday, then fell 1-8 Monday night at Fresno State in a non-conference matchup.
SCOUTING THE ANTEATERS
UC Irvine enters the weekend after four straight losses, including a three-game home sweep by Oregon State and an 8-4 midweek loss at San Diego State.
The Anteaters are batting .230 as a team and are led by Zach Fjelstad's .333 average, 33 hits and 10 doubles. Alonso Reyes is hitting .309 with 16 RBI, while Tommy Farmer has added three home runs and 12 RBI.
On the mound, Trevor Hansen leads the rotation with a 3.29 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 38.1 innings, while Ricky Ojeda has struck out 29 across 27.1 innings. UC Irvine carries a 4.98 team ERA entering the weekend.
PLAYER NOTES
• Trevor Goldenetz has reached base in all 24 games this season and continues to set the tone atop the lineup with 35 hits, 16 walks and nine stolen bases.
• Jake Evans has continued to provide steady production near the top of the lineup, pairing a .385 batting average with seven doubles, 11 walks and a .517 on-base percentage.
• Dylan Lina leads Long Beach State with 27 RBI and five home runs while continuing to provide middle-order production.
• Trotter Enright has driven in 22 runs, second on the team, and leads the Dirtbags with eight doubles.
• Camden Gasser's 25 walks remain the highest total in the Big West.
• Smith Chandler enters the weekend batting .275 with eight RBI and a .413 on-base percentage in expanded opportunities.
