Dirtbags Set For Five-Game Homestand Featuring USC, San Diego State, And UC Riverside

Tuesday, April 14

Long Beach, Calif.

6:05 p.m.

Long Beach State University

USC

Tickets From $12 - $33

Dirtbags Set For Five-Game Homestand Featuring USC, San Diego State, And UC Riverside

4/13/2026 4:32:00 PM | Baseball

Long Beach State opens a five-game homestand stretch with key matchups against ranked USC, San Diego State and UC Riverside.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State continues its homestand at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field this week, opening a five-game stretch with midweek matchups against No. 12 USC and San Diego State before continuing Big West play against UC Riverside.

LEADING OFF
• The Dirtbags will play five home games this week, beginning with a matchup against No. 12 USC on Tuesday at 6:05 p.m., followed by San Diego State on Wednesday at 6:05 p.m., before hosting UC Riverside for a three-game Big West series Friday and Saturday at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

• Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday's games will be streamed on ESPN+.

• Sunday's finale will feature the "Bark in the Park" promotion, inviting fans to bring their dogs to Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.

STARTING PITCHERS
Graduate right-hander Caleb Anderson will take the mound Tuesday against USC, adjusting the Dirtbags' usual weekend rotation. Anderson has made 15 appearances with four starts, posting a 7.91 ERA with 34 strikeouts across 33.0 innings.

Freshman right-hander Mason Tymick will make his first career start Wednesday against San Diego State. Tymick has appeared in 11 games out of the bullpen, posting a 5.73 ERA across 11.0 innings with 15 strikeouts.

Freshman right-hander Luke Howe is slated to start Saturday's contest. Howe carries a 4-1 record with a 4.99 ERA over nine starts. Leading the team with 49 strikeouts across 57.2 innings, while ranking among the Big West leaders in innings pitched and wins.

Freshman right-hander Jason Gerfers is projected to start Sunday, continuing to anchor the weekend rotation. Gerfers has recorded 47 strikeouts over 50.0 innings with two complete games, holding opponents to a .235 batting average across 10 appearances.

THIS AND THAT
• Long Beach State continues to trend upward offensively, with Trevor Goldenetz ranking second in the Big West in batting average (.369) and first in on-base percentage (.489), while Jake Evans ranks sixth in batting average (.356) and fourth in on-base percentage (.481).

• Goldenetz also ranks among conference leaders in runs scored (26), hits (41) and stolen bases (10), continuing to set the tone at the top of the lineup.

• Dylan Lina ranks second in the Big West with 38 RBI and sits among the conference's top power hitters with eight home runs.

• Evans and Matt Toomey provide extra-base production, ranking fifth and eighth in the conference with 11 and 10 doubles, respectively.

• Goldenetz ranks among the top five in sacrifice bunts, while Toomey sits second in the conference in sacrifice flies.

• On the mound, Howe ranks fourth in the Big West in innings pitched (57.2) and is among the top 10 in strikeouts (49) and wins, while Gerfers also ranks among conference leaders with 47 strikeouts.

FRESHMEN WEEKEND IMPACT
Long Beach State continues to rely on freshmen in key weekend roles, with Howe and Gerfers anchoring two spots in the rotation. Howe now leads the team in strikeouts with 49, while Gerfers follows closely with 47, highlighting the impact of the Dirtbags' young arms.

Gerfers has also delivered two complete games this season and earned back-to-back Big West Pitcher of the Week honors, in addition to national recognition with a selection to the Baseball America Week 6 Team of the Week.

LAST TIME OUT
Long Beach State dropped a midweek matchup to California Baptist, 10-5, in a bullpen-heavy contest at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.

The Dirtbags then dropped a series to Cal State Fullerton, opening with a 10-0 loss before bouncing back with a 4-3 walk-off victory in Game 2. Kaiden Smaka delivered the game-winning hit, while Howe turned in a career performance with eight innings pitched and a career-high 10 strikeouts.

Cal State Fullerton claimed the rubber game, 6-2, despite a late rally from Long Beach State. Lina provided the highlight in the finale with a two-run home run in the ninth inning, his eighth of the season.

SCOUTING THE TROJANS
USC enters the week after dropping a 5-1 road contest against UC Santa Barbara but responded by sweeping a Big Ten series against Iowa at home, winning 9-2, 6-3 and 8-2.

Kevin Takeuchi leads the Trojans at the plate, batting .319 with 44 hits, 31 RBI and a .396 on-base percentage, while adding speed on the basepaths with nine stolen bases.

USC's pitching staff is anchored by Mason Edwards, who carries a 1.35 ERA with a 6-0 record and 95 strikeouts over 53.1 innings, along with Grant Govel (2.13 ERA, 7-0) and Andrew Johnson (3.66 ERA).

SCOUTING THE AZTECS
San Diego State enters after being swept on the road by New Mexico, dropping all three games 5-3, 11-3, and 12-8.

Tyce Peterson leads the Aztecs offensively, batting .330 with a .646 slugging percentage and 30 RBI, while Jabin Trosky adds a .311 average with 47 hits.

On the mound, Rohan Lettow leads the staff with a 3.91 ERA and 61 strikeouts across 48.1 innings.

SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
UC Riverside enters the weekend after dropping a 1-0 midweek game against San Diego State in a no-hitter but won its Big West series against Cal State Northridge, taking two of three games.

David Gibbs leads the Highlanders with a .294 average and a .400 on-base percentage, while Lucas Bonham adds power with six home runs and a .500 slugging percentage.

Matthew O'Brien anchors the pitching staff with a 4.12 ERA across 59.0 innings.

PLAYER NOTES
• Goldenetz continues to be the catalyst at the top of the lineup, hitting .369 with 41 hits, 26 runs scored, 20 walks and 10 stolen bases, consistently creating scoring opportunities.

• Evans has developed into a reliable all-around hitter, batting .356 with 36 hits, 11 doubles and a .525 slugging percentage while maintaining a .481 on-base mark.

• Chandler has taken on an expanded role offensively, batting .306 with 26 hits, 16 RBI and three home runs, while also showcasing discipline with 14 walks and speed on the bases.

• Toomey continues to deliver in key moments, compiling 26 hits, 10 doubles and 16 RBI while adding toughness at the plate with 14 hit-by-pitches and strong situational hitting.

• Enright remains a steady presence in the lineup and defensively, totaling 33 hits and 26 RBI while handling a heavy workload across the infield.

• Lina leads the team in run production with 38 RBI and eight home runs, continuing to provide power in the middle of the order while delivering timely extra-base hits.

• Smaka has emerged in clutch situations, batting .265 with 18 hits and delivering the walk-off hit against Cal State Fullerton to secure the series victory in Game 2.

• Conner Stewart continues to anchor the Dirtbags behind the plate, providing steady defense at catcher while adding 13 hits.

• Reid Montgomery has provided depth and versatility, collecting 10 hits and seven RBI while contributing defensively across multiple positions in 23 appearances.