Long Beach State's baseball team resumes Big West play with a three-game road series against Cal State Northridge starting Thursday, followed by a non-conference home game against Cal Baptist University on Monday. After experiencing a tough stretch losing three of four games, including a series against UC Irvine, the Dirtbags aim to bounce back. Key pitchers for the weekend include graduate right-hander Caleb Anderson, who is looking to build on his recent win, and promising freshmen Luke Howe and Jason Gerfers, both making significant contributions this season.

By the Numbers
  • Trevor Goldenetz leads the Big West in batting average at .394 and on-base percentage at .512 with 39 hits.
  • Dylan Lina has 31 RBI, ranking first in the conference, and has hit seven home runs this season.
State of Play
  • Long Beach State holds a .273 team batting average and aims to improve after recent back-to-back losses.
  • Cal State Northridge is coming off a mixed series against Cal State Bakersfield and a midweek loss to Pepperdine.
  • Cal Baptist University enters the series with a strong offense, having just swept St. John's with a stellar 3.06 staff ERA.
What's Next

The Dirtbags will look to secure victories against CSUN and build momentum entering their matchup with Cal Baptist, considered a non-conference challenge. Success depends on the performance of their starting pitchers and leveraging their offensive strengths, particularly from standout players like Goldenetz and Lina.

Bottom Line

Long Beach State needs to reclaim its competitive edge during this critical series, especially considering recent losses. A strong showing could set the stage for a successful non-conference matchup against Cal Baptist, potentially reversing their current trend and enhancing team morale.