SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. –Long Beach State closed out its 2026 season Saturday afternoon with an 8-3 loss to Cal Poly at Baggett Stadium as the Mustangs completed the three-game series sweep.<\/p>\n
The Dirtbags struck first in the opening inning when Dylan Lina<\/a> launched a solo home run to left field, his 12th homer of the season, giving Long Beach State an early 1-0 lead.<\/p>\n Cal Poly answered in the bottom half after Nate Castellon was hit by a pitch and Dylan Kordic singled through the right side. Casey Murray Jr. followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Castellon and tie the game at 1-1.<\/p>\n Long Beach State regained the lead in the third inning with a four-hit rally. Smith Chandler<\/a> opened the frame with an infield single before Lina lined a base hit to right field. Murchael Turner<\/a> then punched an RBI single through the left side to score Chandler, and Kaiden Smaka<\/a> followed with a single up the middle to bring home Lina for a 3-1 Dirtbags advantage.<\/p>\n Freshman starter Jason Gerfers<\/a> settled in after the first inning and retired the Mustangs in order during the third, but Cal Poly shifted momentum in the fourth with a four-run inning.<\/p>\n Jake Downing opened the inning with a double to left center before Gavin Spiridonoff singled through the right side. Cam Hoiland added an RBI single to trim the deficit to 3-2, and Dante Vachini later reached on a fielder’s choice. Castellon tied the game with an RBI single through the left side before Alejandro Garza laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Vachini and put the Mustangs ahead. An error later in the inning extended the frame before Ryan Tayman delivered an RBI single to right field to make it 5-3.<\/p>\n Cal Poly added two more runs in the fifth after Spiridonoff drew a walk and Hoiland singled up the middle. Vachini followed with an RBI single to right field, while a fielding error allowed Hoiland to score from first and extend the Mustangs lead to 7-3.<\/p>\n Long Beach State threatened in several innings but stranded runners throughout the afternoon. Ty Borgogno<\/a> doubled in the fourth and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but the Dirtbags could not capitalize. Justin Roulston<\/a> added a fifth-inning single, while Damon Valdez<\/a> and Trotter Enright<\/a> each collected hits late in the game.<\/p>\n The Mustangs added their final run in the eighth after Tayman doubled down the left field line and scored on Downing’s RBI single through the right side.<\/p>\n Lina finished with two hits, including his solo home run, while Turner and Smaka each drove in a run during the third inning rally. Borgogno added two hits, and Enright reached base twice for Long Beach State.<\/p>\n Gerfers struck out five over four innings in his final start of the season before Joey Iglesias<\/a>, Cristien Banda<\/a>, Mason Tymick<\/a> and Alex Ramos<\/a> combined in relief.<\/p>\n Saturday’s finale officially closed the book on the Dirtbags’ 2026 season. Long Beach State thanks all fans, alumni and supporters for their continued support throughout the year.
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