LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — Aden Howard’s two-run double in the eighth inning broke a tie and the San Diego Toreros capitalized on a pair of costly Long Beach State errors in the 11th to secure a 6-3 victory in nonconference baseball Tuesday night at Blair Field.

The game, a tightly contested affair defined by small ball and missed opportunities, saw the Toreros improve to 3-1 while the Dirtbags fell to 1-3.

San Diego’s offense was held to just five hits but was buoyed by 10 walks and three hit batters. Long Beach State out-hit the Toreros with six hits but stranded 10 baserunners and grounded into no double plays, contrasting with San Diego’s two.

The Dirtbags struck first in the opening inning. Leadoff hitter Goldenetz reached on an infield single, advanced to second on a throwing error by San Diego starter Piper, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Toomey. They added another run in the fourth when Enright doubled, was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Chandler, and came home on a sacrifice fly by Perez.

San Diego’s offense was stifled early, with three runners caught stealing in the first three innings. They broke through in the seventh when catcher Jayden Lobliner launched a solo home run to deep center field off reliever Iglesias, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

The pivotal sequence came in the top of the eighth. With the Toreros still trailing by a run, Andrew Gauna and Tanner Kern worked walks against reliever Shelby. Pinch-hitter Martinez executed a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Howard then delivered the game’s biggest hit, a double to the outfield that scored both Gauna and Kern, giving San Diego its first lead at 3-2.

Long Beach State answered in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Pinch-hitter Montgomery doubled, was replaced by pinch-runner Tomlin, who advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly by Evans, his second of the game.

After a scoreless 10th, the Toreros capitalized on defensive miscues to plate three unearned runs in the 11th. Gabe Springer was hit by a pitch and Connor Meidroth singled him to third. After a strikeout, Gauna hit a ground ball to third baseman Enright, whose throwing error allowed both Springer and Meidroth to score. Following a walk, Martinez reached on an error by second baseman Goldenetz, allowing Gauna to cross the plate for a 6-3 lead.

San Diego reliever Deschryver, who entered in the ninth, earned the win. Sebek recorded the final three outs in the 11th after the Dirtbags put two runners on via a walk and an error.

Long Beach State employed seven pitchers in the loss. The teams combined for five sacrifice hits and three sacrifice flies, underscoring the game’s small-ball nature.

The Toreros continue their season-opening road stretch with a weekend series against Utah beginning Friday. Long Beach State travels to Corpus Christi, Texas, for a tournament starting Friday against Pittsburgh.