Lina Homers Early As Dirtbags Drop Series Finale To UC Irvine

Sunday, March 29

Long Beach, Calif.

1:05 p.m.

Long Beach State University

9-18, 4-8

UC Irvine

11-16, 3-6

UC Irvine

Long Beach State

Lina Homers Early As Dirtbags Drop Series Finale To UC Irvine

3/29/2026 5:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Dylan Lina delivered Long Beach State’s lone run in Sunday’s finale.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Long Beach State received an early lift from Dylan Lina, but UC Irvine capitalized on key early opportunities and handed the Dirtbags a 7-1 loss Sunday at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field, giving the Anteaters their first Big West series victory of the season.

Freshman right-hander Jason Gerfers, coming off a complete game and back-to-back Big West Pitcher of the Week honors, worked around a two-out error in the first inning before settling in with a groundout to second to end the frame. Long Beach State threatened in the bottom half when Jake Evans singled up the middle after Trevor Goldenetz struck out, but Evans was picked off trying to advance before the Dirtbags could build momentum.

UC Irvine then loaded the bases with a single and two walks before Efren Ortega forced in the first run with a walk. Zach Doyle followed with a two-run single through the right side to put the Anteaters ahead 3-0.

Long Beach State answered immediately in the bottom of the inning when Lina drove a first-pitch fastball deep over the left-field wall for his seventh home run of the season and second of the series, trimming the deficit to 3-1. Reid Montgomery later walked and Ty Borgogno was hit by a pitch, but UC Irvine starter Finnegan Wall escaped further damage.

The Anteaters added two more runs in the third after Zach Fjelstad singled and Auggie Gutierrez followed with a base hit. An error from Gerfers on the play allowed both runners to score, with both runs ruled unearned as UC Irvine stretched the lead to 5-1.

UC Irvine continued to add pressure in the fifth when Fjelstad opened with his second hit of the day and Dylan Hillman doubled to left to score another run. A bases-loaded walk in the sixth pushed the margin to 7-1 before the Dirtbags bullpen settled in behind Mason Tymick, Brad Grindlinger and Erick Diez, who combined for four scoreless innings and six strikeouts.

Long Beach State collected seven hits, with Lina finishing 2 for 4 and Trotter Enright adding two singles. The Dirtbags put runners aboard late with singles from Borgogno, Enright and Kaiden Smaka, but could not break through against Wall and reliever Jack Ross.

Long Beach State will look to regroup as they head into another Big West series against Cal State Northridge on the road starting on Thursday, first pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.