LONG BEACH, Calif. — Jake Evans gave Long Beach State an early spark with a first-inning solo home run, but Hawai’i answered with six runs in the second inning and pulled away for an 11-1 win Friday night in Big West action at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.
Evans accounted for the Dirtbags’ lone run with his first homer of the season, while Trevor Goldenetz and Smith Chandler each collected two hits in the loss. Hawai’i starter Isaiah Magdaleno held Long Beach State to one run over six innings and struck out nine.
After Jake Fields started and recorded two strikeouts in the opening inning, the Dirtbags turned to Joey Iglesias, Caleb Anderson, Ka’imi Kahalekai and Mason Tymick out of the bullpen. Anderson worked 4.1 innings and struck out five, while Tymick closed the final two innings without allowing a hit and added two strikeouts.
In the eighth inning, Damon Valdez came off the bench to bat against his brother, Hawai’i reliever Derek Valdez, grounding out in the family matchup.
Long Beach State will look to bounce back in Game 2 of the series Saturday, with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. on ESPN+.