FRESNO, Calif. (Interstat) — A pair of three-run home runs powered Fresno State to an 8-1 victory over Long Beach State in a nonconference baseball game Monday night at Selland Arena.

The Bulldogs broke open a tight contest with a five-run outburst between the third and fifth innings, improving to 8-14 on the season. The Dirtbags, who scratched out a single run in the first inning, saw their record fall to 8-16.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the bottom of the third inning. Long Beach State starter Jaxon Baker had been sharp through two scoreless frames, but after a walk and a single put two on with nobody out, the Dirtbags turned to their bullpen. The move backfired immediately. Facing reliever Kaimi Kahalekai, Fresno State third baseman Michael Boyd launched the first pitch he saw deep over the right-field wall for a three-run homer, erasing the Dirtbags’ early lead and putting the Bulldogs ahead for good at 3-1.

Fresno State was not done in the inning. They added another run on a sacrifice fly by Jett Ruby before Long Beach State reliever Joey Iglesias could stop the bleeding. The four-run inning provided all the cushion the Bulldogs’ pitching staff would ultimately need.

Long Beach State had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Leadoff hitter Trevor Goldenetz singled, stole second, advanced to third on a flyout and scored on a walk to Trotter Enright with the bases loaded. The Dirtbags, however, squandered several early opportunities, stranding two runners in the first and leaving the bases loaded in the second and third innings. They finished the game with six hits but went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Fresno State extended its lead in the fifth inning. With two on and one out, first baseman Cayden Munster connected for the Bulldogs’ second three-run blast of the night, driving a pitch from Erick Diez to deep right field to make the score 7-1. Brady Hewitt added a solo homer in the eighth inning to cap the scoring.

The Bulldogs’ bullpen was dominant, combining for 7 2/3 innings of shutout relief after starter Victor Arreola allowed one run over two innings. The relief corps of BJ Rodriguez, Wyatt Thornbury, Weston Thornbury, Douglas Crystal and Tyler Patrick held Long Beach State to just three hits while striking out six. Wyatt Thornbury earned the win after recording four outs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Despite the loss, Long Beach State received several effective pitching performances in relief. After the third-inning trouble, Joey Iglesias threw two scoreless innings. Jaxon Baker, Tyler Gebb and Mason Tymick also contributed scoreless outings.

Goldenetz led the Dirtbags’ offense with three of the team’s six hits. Enright drove in the lone run. For Fresno State, Sky Collins had two hits and scored twice, while Boyd and Munster each drove in three runs.

The game defied the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 5-3 Fresno State victory. The Bulldogs’ ELO probability to win was 56.6%.

Long Beach State looks to rebound as it opens a three-game Big West Conference series at home against UC Irvine starting Friday. Fresno State heads to Albuquerque to begin a three-game Mountain West Conference set at New Mexico on Friday.