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The baseball season is considered a marathon and not a sprint. So even though Long Beach State stumbled coming off the starting line on Friday night, they’ll have plenty of chances to find their footing during the 2026 season.
But Friday night’s opener against San Jose State is one they’ll want to move on from quickly, as the visiting Spartans came into Bohl Diamond at Blair Field and earned a convincing 8-0 victory over the Dirtbags.
The Spartans scored the game’s first run in the top of the first inning, and were relentless at the plate. The visitors scored at least one run in seven of the nine innings–including in each of the last six frames–to pull away for the shutout win.
Leadoff man Alex Fernandes went 5-for-5 for San Jose State, adding a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Jake McCoy had a pair of hits including a solo home run in the fifth, and Vincent Gamberdella went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs.
While SJSU pounded out 12 hits and added nine walks offensively, the Dirtbags’ bats had a tough time getting going. Long Beach did work seven walks–getting two apiece from Camden Gasser and Trotter Enright at the top of the order–but they mustered just two hits on the night, and had none through the first six innings.
Long Beach’s first hit of the night came with two outs in the seventh inning. Trailing 6-0 at that point, freshman Trevor Goldenetz laid down a bunt along the third base line and was able to beat out the throw to first base.
Given the score while in the late innings, baseball purists may call foul on bunting to break up a no-hitter, one of the many “unwritten rules” of the game. It’s unclear whether Goldenetz went on his own to bunt for the hit (which he also attempted in one of his previous at-bats) or if it was a called play by the coaching staff.
Dirtbags head coach TJ Bruce declined to be interviewed after the game, according to a member of the Long Beach State athletic communications staff.
LBSU did put a rally together in the eighth, when Jake Evans was hit by a pitch and Enright followed up with a clean one-out double to left, putting two men in scoring position. However, they were both stranded to keep the Dirtbags scoreless.
Cleanup hitter Aaron Perez had a big swing in the bottom of the first inning that could have put the Dirtbags into the lead, but his deep fly ball to right field was caught on the warning track, another victim of Blair Field’s notorious marine layer during night games.
True freshman Jason Gerfers got the start for Long Beach State, becoming the first freshman in at least 22 years to start on Opening Day for the Dirtbags, based on available records going back to 2004.
Gerfers lasted 4.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits. He did have five strikeouts, which helped him get out of some jams, but he also walked four batters and hit two others.
Dirtbags pitchers were able to limit the damage overall, stranding 15 Spartans on base throughout the night.
Kyle Calzadiaz picked up the win for SJSU, tossing five scoreless frames, allowing no hits and walking five. He also had a handful of strikeouts, fanning the side in the second. EJ McGrew covered the final four innings to earn the save.
These teams will be back in action on Saturday evening in game two of the series. Senior David Thomas is expected to get the ball for San Jose State while Long Beach has yet to announce its starter. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
