Smaka Delivers Walk-Off Magic As Dirtbags Top Fullerton

Saturday, April 11

Long Beach, Calif.

6:05 p.m.

Long Beach State University

11-22, 6-11

Cal State Fullerton

16-17, 10-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Cal St. Fullerton	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	9	1
Long Beach State	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	4	14	1

4/11/2026 10:42:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State answered the call Saturday night, grinding out a walk-off win over Cal State Fullerton in a tightly played rivalry matchup at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.

The Titans struck first in the opening inning. After two quick groundouts to shortstop by Nick Miller and Ty Thomas, Cameron Kim lined a single down the right field line. Andrew Kirchner was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Niko Lombardi followed with a double down the right field line, scoring Kim and moving Kirchner to third. Luke Howe responded by striking out Eli Lopez to limit the damage to one run.

The Dirtbags answered immediately in the bottom half. Trotter Enright worked a leadoff walk and moved to second on a groundout by Jake Evans. Matt Toomey then delivered a ground-rule double to deep left, scoring Enright to tie the game. After Dylan Lina is struck out swinging, Smith Chandler shot a single past the left side of the infield to bring home Toomey from second, giving Long Beach State a 2-1 lead.

Howe settled in from there, retiring the side in order in the second with a strikeout, groundout and lineout. He then worked a clean third inning with a strikeout and two more groundouts. The freshman continued to pound the zone, keeping Fullerton off balance.

Fullerton tied the game in the fourth when Lombardi led off with a solo home run to left field. Howe bounced back with back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, Chandler grounded out and Kaiden Smaka followed with a triple into the right field corner after the outfielder's diving attempt came up short, but a flyout to deep center stranded him at third, keeping the score tied.

Howe worked around traffic in the fifth, as Cade O'Hara reached safely and later moved into scoring position, but Howe struck out Ty Thomas looking and induced a flyout to left to end the threat. He followed with a dominant sixth, striking out Kirchner and Lombardi retiring the side in order, and added two more strikeouts in the seventh to reach double digits.

The Dirtbags regained the lead in the sixth. Chandler beat out an infield single and stole second, then advanced to third on a deep flyout by Smaka. Aaron Perez reached on a throwing error by the second baseman, allowing Chandler to score and put Long Beach State ahead 3-2.

Fullerton responded in the eighth. Cameron Kim singled to left, and Kirchner followed with a double into the left-center gap, scoring Kim from first to tie the game at 3-3. Howe limited further damage with a groundout and flyout to send the game into the late innings.

Mason Tymick took over in the ninth and faced immediate pressure after O'Hara tripled to deep center. Tymick responded with a drop strikeout, on the same play the runner on 3^rd base broke for home but was tagged by Valdez for a key double play.

In the bottom of the ninth, Enright opened with a single to shallow right. Evans popped up to first for the first out, but Toomey followed with a single that deflected off the third baseman's glove, putting runners on first and second. Lina flied out to center, leaving the Dirtbags down to their final out.

Chandler then beat out an infield single to load the bases, setting the stage for Smaka. With runners at every base, Smaka drove a ball into the left-center gap that dropped just beyond a diving outfielder, allowing Enright to race home from third and secure the walk-off victory.

The series will conclude Sunday in a rubber game at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field, with first pitch moved from 1:05 p.m. to 2:05 p.m. due to anticipated rain.