LONG BEACH, Calif. \u2014 Long Beach State returns to Bohl Diamond at Blair Field this weekend to continue Big West play with a three-game series against the University of Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors beginning Friday at 6:05 p.m. The Dirtbags will look to respond after a midweek road test against No. 25 University of Southern California, with all three games this weekend streamed on ESPN+.<\/p>\n
LEADING OFF
\nThe 72nd season of Long Beach State baseball continues this week as the Dirtbags return home for their second conference series of the season against Hawai’i. The series opens Friday, March 13 at 6:05 p.m., continues Saturday, March 14 at 6:05 p.m. and concludes Sunday, March 15 at 1:05 p.m. at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.<\/p>\n
Friday’s ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Housing and Residential representative Cesar Perez. Saturday will feature Salute to Service Night, while Sunday’s finale includes Kids Run the Bases following the game. All three contests will be streamed on ESPN+.<\/p>\n
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS Hawai’i is projected to counter Friday with right-hander Isaiah Magdaleno, who enters with a 1-1 record and a 3.70 ERA in four starts. Magdaleno has struck out 29 batters with eight walks this season.<\/p>\n Saturday’s projected matchup features Hawai’i right-hander Hekili Robello, who is 3-0 with a 1.14 ERA through four starts and owns 27 strikeouts against just three walks.<\/p>\n The Rainbow Warriors are expected to close the weekend with right-hander Liam O’Brien, who enters 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA and 15 strikeouts over four starts.<\/p>\n THIS OR THAT Trevor Goldenetz<\/a> ranks fourth in the conference with a .379 batting average and seventh in on-base percentage at .507. He is fifth in hits with 22, fifth in walks with 12, first in sacrifice bunts with four and first in stolen bases with seven.<\/p>\n Jake Evans<\/a> ranks fifth in the Big West with a .378 batting average and sixth in on-base percentage at .508.<\/p>\n Camden Gasser<\/a> ranks ninth in the conference in runs scored with 14 and leads the Big West with 24 walks, a total that ranks third nationally.<\/p>\n Dylan Lina<\/a> is third in the conference with 20 RBI, while Trotter Enright<\/a> ranks 11th with 14 RBI and fifth in doubles with seven.<\/p>\n On the mound, Luke Howe<\/a> ranks 10th in the Big West with a 3.33 ERA.<\/p>\n SCOUTING THE RAINBOW WARRIORS Long Beach State leads the all-time series 26-18, including a 21-16 edge in conference games. Last season, the Dirtbags won two of three in Honolulu, taking the final two games by scores of 3-2 and 5-4 after dropping the opener 10-5.<\/p>\n Hawai’i has gone 10-6 against Long Beach State since 2021 as the programs meet for the final time as Big West rivals.<\/p>\n The Rainbow Warriors continue to rely on elite pitching, entering the weekend 13th nationally with a 3.02 ERA and seventh in walks allowed per nine innings at 2.71. Hawai’i also ranks among the national leaders in strikeout-to-walk ratio, WHIP, shutouts and walk percentage, while holding opponents to three or fewer runs in nine of 16 games.<\/p>\n LAST TIME OUT PLAYER NOTES
\nLong Beach State is expected to open the series with right-hander Jake Fields<\/a>, who has made four appearances, including three starts, and carries a 5.03 ERA across 19.2 innings. Fields has struck out 17 batters while holding opponents to a .156 batting average, the lowest mark among Dirtbags starters.<\/p>\n
\nLong Beach State enters the weekend fifth in the Big West in batting average at .225 and eighth in conference pitching with a 6.52 ERA.<\/p>\n
\nHawai’i enters the weekend after being swept in its Big West-opening series against Cal Poly, dropping games by scores of 6-2, 10-7 in 11 innings and 7-3. The Rainbow Warriors responded with a 15-0 seven-inning midweek win over Chaminade University.<\/p>\n
\nLong Beach State dropped a 6-1 decision Tuesday night at No. 25 USC in Los Angeles. The Dirtbags will face the Trojans again later this season at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.<\/p>\n
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\n\tTrevor Goldenetz<\/a> leads the Dirtbags with a .379 batting average, 22 hits and a .507 on-base percentage. He has scored 10 runs, driven in five and stolen seven bases.
\n\tJake Evans<\/a> is batting .378 with 17 hits, four doubles and a .508 on-base percentage while adding five RBI.
\n\tReid Montgomery<\/a> is hitting .296 in 12 appearances with eight hits, one double, one home run and three RBI.
\n\tTrotter Enright<\/a> has started all 16 games and owns 17 hits, seven doubles and 14 RBI.
\n\tDylan Lina<\/a> leads the team with 20 RBI and three home runs while adding 12 hits and a .418 slugging percentage.
\n\tMatt Toomey<\/a> has 10 hits, four doubles, one triple and five stolen bases in five attempts.
\n\tCamden Gasser<\/a> has scored 14 runs and owns a .492 on-base percentage with 24 walks.
\n\tAaron Perez<\/a> has recorded 10 hits, including two doubles and one home run, with five RBI.
\n\tLuke Howe<\/a> has been Long Beach State’s most reliable starter, posting a 3.33 ERA in four starts across 24.1 innings with 16 strikeouts and six walks.
\n\tJake Fields<\/a> has worked 19.2 innings with 17 strikeouts and 18 walks while holding opponents to a .156 batting average.
\n\tJason Gerfers<\/a> has made four starts, totaling 17.2 innings with 15 strikeouts.
\n\tTyler Gebb<\/a> has struck out 10 batters in 8.2 relief innings, while Alex Ramos<\/a> has recorded 11 strikeouts in 8.2 innings out of the bullpen.
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