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.<\/p>\n
LEADING OFF
\n\u2022 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.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday’s games will be streamed on ESPN+.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Sunday’s finale will feature the “Bark in the Park” promotion, inviting fans to bring their dogs to Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.<\/p>\n
STARTING PITCHERS Freshman right-hander Mason Tymick<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Freshman right-hander Luke Howe<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Freshman right-hander Jason Gerfers<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n THIS AND THAT \u2022 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.<\/p>\n \u2022 Dylan Lina<\/a> ranks second in the Big West with 38 RBI and sits among the conference’s top power hitters with eight home runs.<\/p>\n \u2022 Evans and Matt Toomey<\/a> provide extra-base production, ranking fifth and eighth in the conference with 11 and 10 doubles, respectively.<\/p>\n \u2022 Goldenetz ranks among the top five in sacrifice bunts, while Toomey sits second in the conference in sacrifice flies.<\/p>\n \u2022 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.<\/p>\n FRESHMEN WEEKEND IMPACT 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.<\/p>\n LAST TIME OUT 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<\/a> delivered the game-winning hit, while Howe turned in a career performance with eight innings pitched and a career-high 10 strikeouts.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n SCOUTING THE TROJANS 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.<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n SCOUTING THE AZTECS 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.<\/p>\n On the mound, Rohan Lettow leads the staff with a 3.91 ERA and 61 strikeouts across 48.1 innings.<\/p>\n SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS 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.<\/p>\n Matthew O’Brien anchors the pitching staff with a 4.12 ERA across 59.0 innings.<\/p>\n PLAYER NOTES \u2022 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.<\/p>\n \u2022 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.<\/p>\n \u2022 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.<\/p>\n \u2022 Enright remains a steady presence in the lineup and defensively, totaling 33 hits and 26 RBI while handling a heavy workload across the infield.<\/p>\n \u2022 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.<\/p>\n \u2022 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.<\/p>\n
\nGraduate right-hander Caleb Anderson<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Long Beach State continues to trend upward offensively, with Trevor Goldenetz<\/a> ranking second in the Big West in batting average (.369) and first in on-base percentage (.489), while Jake Evans<\/a> ranks sixth in batting average (.356) and fourth in on-base percentage (.481).<\/p>\n
\nLong 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.<\/p>\n
\nLong Beach State dropped a midweek matchup to California Baptist, 10-5, in a bullpen-heavy contest at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.<\/p>\n
\nUSC 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.<\/p>\n
\nSan Diego State enters after being swept on the road by New Mexico, dropping all three games 5-3, 11-3, and 12-8.<\/p>\n
\nUC 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.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 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.<\/p>\n