SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Interstat) — Rowan Kelly’s tiebreaking double in the sixth inning capped a comeback from an early three-run deficit, lifting UC Santa Barbara to a 4-3 victory over Long Beach State in a Big West Conference opener on Friday at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.

The Gauchos (10-2, 1-0 Big West), winners of seven straight, were projected as heavy favorites but found themselves behind immediately as the Dirtbags (4-9, 0-1) struck in the first inning. Trevor Goldenetz and Reid Montgomery led off with singles, and after a stolen base, Dylan Lina drove them both in with a single up the middle for a quick 2-0 lead.

Long Beach State starter Jake Fields kept the potent UCSB offense off balance early, not allowing a hit through the first four innings. The Dirtbags added a third run in the fifth when Lina delivered again, this time an RBI single through the left side to score Camden Gasser, who had walked.

The momentum shifted decisively in the bottom of the fifth. Fields, who had not allowed a hit, walked Colin Beazizo to start the inning. A stolen base, a failed pickoff attempt and a throwing error by Fields moved Beazizo to third. Kelly then singled him home for UCSB’s first hit and run. The next batter, Cole Kosciusko, launched a two-run homer over the left-field fence, tying the game 3-3 and chasing Fields.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the sixth. With new pitcher Alex Ramos on for Long Beach State, pinch-hitter Jordan Marian and Beazizo singled. Pinch-runner Corey Nunez scored the go-ahead run when Kelly laced a double down the right-field line, giving UCSB its first lead at 4-3.

That one-run margin held thanks to a stellar start by UCSB’s Jackson Flora and a lockdown effort from the Gauchos’ bullpen. Flora, the top star for UCSB, settled after the rocky first, finishing with six innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out seven. He earned the win to improve to 3-0.

The Dirtbags threatened repeatedly, outhitting UCSB 10-8, but could not complete the rally. They loaded the bases in the seventh against reliever Chase Hoover, but he struck out Dylan Lina to end the threat. In the ninth, against closer AJ Krodel, the Dirtbags pulled within a run on Lina’s third RBI single of the game, scoring Gasser. With the tying run on second, Krodel induced a game-ending groundout from Matt Toomey to secure his fourth save.

Lina finished 2 for 5 with all three Long Beach State RBIs. Kelly led UCSB, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs, including the game-winner.

Tyler Gebb provided two perfect innings of relief for Long Beach State after the sixth, but the Dirtbags fell to 1-6 in games decided by two runs or fewer this season.

The teams continue the three-game series Saturday.