LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — Kaiden Smaka delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday, lifting Long Beach State to a 4-3 victory over Cal State Fullerton in a back-and-forth Big West Conference game at Blair Field.

The win gave the Dirtbags a measure of redemption after being shut out 10-0 by the Titans in the series opener Friday. It also snapped Long Beach State’s four-game losing streak, improving its record to 11-22 overall and 2-6 in conference play. Cal State Fullerton fell to 15-16 and 4-4.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the dramatic final frame. After stranding the potential go-ahead run at third base in the top of the ninth, the Titans turned to reliever Andrew Wright to preserve a 3-3 tie. Wright, who had escaped a jam in the eighth, gave up a leadoff single to Jack Enright. After a sacrifice bunt attempt resulted in a popout, Matt Toomey singled to left, putting runners on first and second.

Smith Chandler then loaded the bases with an infield single, setting the stage for Smaka, the designated hitter. On a 1-1 count, Smaka lined a sharp single into left field, scoring Enright easily from third and triggering a celebration as the Dirtbags streamed from their dugout.

The finish capped a game defined by strong starting pitching and missed opportunities. Long Beach State ace Luke Howe was the top star, earning the win with a gritty 123-pitch complete game. He allowed three runs on eight hits, walking none and striking out 10. Howe worked out of trouble repeatedly, stranding six Titan runners, including leaving the potential go-ahead run at third base in both the fifth and ninth innings.

Cal State Fullerton’s Bobby Mahoney was equally effective early, holding the Dirtbags hitless over 5 1/3 innings. He was charged with two runs, one earned, on five walks with five strikeouts before departing with a 3-2 lead.

The Titans struck first, plating two runs in the opening inning. After two quick outs, Jae Kim singled and Alex Kirchner was hit by a pitch. Catcher Niko Lombardi followed with an RBI double down the right-field line. Lombardi provided the other Titan run with a solo home run to deep left field in the fourth inning, his second RBI of the game.

Long Beach State answered immediately in the first against Mahoney. Enright walked, advanced on a groundout and scored on a ground-rule double by Toomey. Chandler then singled home Toomey to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Dirtbags tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth on an unearned run. Chandler singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a flyout. After a pitching change, he scored when Titan second baseman Lopez’s throwing error allowed Leo Perez to reach base.

Cal State Fullerton reclaimed the lead in the eighth. Kim singled and Kirchner brought him home with an RBI double to right-center, making it 3-2. The Dirtbags responded in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with no outs against reliever Brock Mayer. Andrew Wright entered and induced a popout and two flyouts to escape the jam unscathed, setting up the ninth-inning heroics.

Chandler led Long Beach State’s 14-hit attack, going 4 for 5 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Smaka finished 3 for 5 with the game-winning RBI, while Toomey was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. For the Titans, Lombardi’s two extra-base hits drove in two runs, and Kim scored twice.

The victory defied the pregame projections from Interstat, which gave Cal State Fullerton a 54.7% probability to win and projected a 4-3 Titan victory.

The teams conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon at Blair Field.