Dirtbags Build Early Lead Before Anteaters Rally In Extras

Saturday, March 28

Long Beach, Calif.

6:05 p.m.

Long Beach State University

9-17, 4-7

UC Irvine

10-16, 1-01-6

UC Irvine

Long Beach State

3/28/2026 11:03:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Long Beach State scored first but dropped Saturday’s rivalry game in 11 innings.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State surged ahead with four runs in the first inning and answered a late UC Irvine rally in the sixth, but the Anteaters scored three times in the 11th inning to claim a 12-9 win Saturday night at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field and even the Black and Blue Rivalry series.

The Dirtbags wasted little time creating offense. Trevor Goldenetz opened the bottom of the first with a bunt single, and Smith Chandler followed with a triple to right-center that brought him home from first. Jake Evans was hit by a pitch before Dylan Lina dropped a single into shallow right to score Chandler and move Evans to second. Trotter Enright then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position, a balk brought Evans home, and Luke Taylor added a run-scoring groundout for a 4-0 lead.

Long Beach State added another run in the third when Lina reached on a hit by pitch, Enright singled to right and Taylor lined an RBI single to deep center, extending the lead to 5-0.

Freshman Luke Howe kept UC Irvine quiet through five innings before the Anteaters broke through in the sixth. Zach Fjelstad opened with a walk and Auggie Gutierrez doubled to left center. Noah Alvarez followed with a two-run single, and later in the inning Zach Doyle doubled home two more before Frankie Carney tied the game with an RBI single to left.

The Dirtbags answered immediately in the bottom half.

Matt Toomey opened the inning with a walk, Ty Borgogno followed with another free pass, and Goldenetz drew a third walk to load the bases. Reid Montgomery came in to pinch hit and lined a two-run single to center, scoring Toomey and Borgogno while pushing Goldenetz to second. Evans followed with a double to deep center that scored Goldenetz, and after Lina walked, Enright brought home another run on a fielder's choice to restore a 9-5 advantage.

Alex Ramos protected that lead in the seventh, striking out three straight hitters after issuing a leadoff walk to keep Long Beach State in front.

UC Irvine tied the game again in the eighth. A pair of walks and a wild pitch loaded the bases before Gutierrez and Zach Crandall each forced in runs with bases-loaded walks. Joey Iglesias entered, but Alvarez singled through the middle to score two more and pull the Anteaters even at 9-9.

Both teams were scoreless through the ninth and 10th. Long Beach State turned a key double play in the 10th when Conner Stewart erased Zach Fjelstad attempting to advance on a strikeout, keeping the game tied heading into the 11th.

UC Irvine found the decisive swing in the 11th when Alonso Reyes drove a two-out triple into left field, scoring three runs for a 12-9 lead. Long Beach State was retired in order in the bottom half.

Goldenetz finished 3 for 3 with two runs scored, while Montgomery drove in two off the bench and Evans added a double and RBI. Long Beach State totaled 10 hits and seven walks in the loss.

The rubber game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field, with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. and streaming on ESPN+.