No. 2 Seed Cal Poly baseball takes on No. 1 seed UC Irvine in the championship game of the Big West tournament
It’s over! Your Cal Poly Mustangs have won the Big West Championship over No. 1 seed UC Irvine and clinched an NCAA playoff berth for the first time since 2014! Their 41st win of the season is the biggest one as they win two straight over UC Irvine to capture the title.
Sagouspe will try and finish the job with a two-run lead.
Vachini does the job! After a sac bunt from Jack Collins, Vachini laces a sac fly to center to add on a much-needed run. 6-4 Mustangs.
Kordic greets the new arm with a stinging double into the right-center gap. A big insurance run if cashed in.
Irvine brings on their closer in the ninth, Big West Second Team honoree, Max Martin
“Goose” does exactly that! The Mustangs are three outs away from capturing the Big West title.
After Cal Poly goes down 1-2-3 in the eighth, Sagoupse will look to throw another shutout inning.
Sagouspe strands a couple and spins a scoreless frame. The Mustangs will look to add insurance in the eighth. 5-4 Cal Poly after seven.
Garza grounded into an inning-ending double play. Mustangs get one in the inning. Sagoupse back out to the mound.
Before Fenn hits, Irvine makes a pitching change. Cal Poly chased Ojeda out of the inning; the only out he recorded was a sacrifice. Fenn is intentionally walked. Bases are loaded for Garza.
Daudet lays down a perfect sacrifice bunt. Second and third, one out, Fenn up to the dish.
Vachini dinks one into left center for a single. Ojeda is yet to record an out. Daudet up with nobody out and two runners on.
Jack Collins delivers the go-ahead RBI! A single through the left side scores Kordic, and the Mustangs are right back on top, 5-4!
Dylan Kordic draws a nine-pitch leadoff walk, and a wild pitch immediately puts him in scoring position.
Big West Pitcher of the Year, Ricky Ojeda, on in relief for Irvine in the seventh.
A two-out run-scoring error extends the inning for Irvine, and they take advantage. Three-run homer ties the game at four in the sixth.
Marmie’s day is done with two outs in the sixth. A peculiar start, as he allowed no runs and only two hits, but hit a program record seven batters. Tanner Sagouspe will enter.
Marmie makes it seven hit batters but is effectively wild, not much hard contact given up so far.
BOOGIE BOMB ONCE AGAIN! Casey Murray Jr. hits his second home run of the tournament, a two-run blast to left field to make it 4-0 Cal Poly.
Marmie gets out of trouble again, stranding two runners. He’s thrown five scoreless innings.
Marmie hits his sixth batter. Irvine is a team that gets hit a lot, and they’re sure showing that today.
The opposite of last night’s game, the Mustangs and Anteaters both searching for offense. Cal Poly goes down in order once again. Heart of the Anteaters lineup coming up.
Marmie gets a strikeout to end the inning. 2-0 Mustangs after four innings. 8-9-1 due up.
Just like that, a double play erases the baserunner. On the next batter, Marmie gives up an infield single to Castellon, his first hit surrendered.
Three up, three down for the Mustangs. Marmie is back out there and hits another batter on the first pitch of the inning.
Marmie gets out of another bases-loaded jam! The sophomore is yet to allow a hit but has walked three, along with his four hit batters. 2-0 Mustangs after three.
Marmie has hit two more batters here in the third. Up to four in the game. Still has not come back to bite him, yet.
Web gem by Peanut! Alejandro “Peanut” Garza robs a hit with a backhand stab and an off-balanced throw from the third base line.
Garza grounds into a 1-2-3 double play. Castellon flies out. No runs for the Mustangs.
Dante Vachini walks, and Daudet and Ryan Fenn lay down back-to-back perfect bunts. Bases are loaded with Alejandro Garza coming up. Nobody out.
Marmie gets two strikeouts in the inning and is through two scoreless frames. 2-0 Cal Poly after two.
Cam Hoiland cashes in Murray Jr. from third with a ground ball to shortstop. 2-0 Mustangs.
Mustangs strike first! Casey Murray Jr. scores Castellon on a triple down the left field line. 1-0 Cal Poly, still nobody out!
A lot of HBP early! Mustangs get their first base runner as Nate Castellon gets plunked to start the second inning.
Marmie loads the bases with a walk and two hit batsmen, but strands the runners. No score after one.
Mustangs go down in order. Ethan Marmie takes the mound for the Mustangs.
Zach Daudet digs into the box, and we are underway in Fullerton!
Same lineup as the last few games for Cal Poly: Daudet 1B, Fenn 2B, Garza 3B, Castellon SS, Murray Jr. CF, Hoiland DH, Kordic RF, Collins C, Vachini LF. Facing right-hander Finnegan Wall. Irvine second baseman and leadoff hitter Will Bermudez is a late scratch from the lineup.
The Mustangs will take on the Anteaters for the third time in three days, this time to declare the champion of the Big West conference. The Anteaters defeated the Mustangs 15-3 on Friday, but Cal Poly returned the favor on Saturday, winning 15-5. Irvine is 4-1 in the season series. Ethan Marmie will get the start for Cal Poly. The Big West champion gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and will travel to a regional next weekend. The selection show is at 9 a.m. on Monday on ESPN2.
No. 2 seed Cal Poly Baseball faces No. 1 UC Irvine to keep Big West Tournament hopes alive
MUSTANGS SURVIVE!!! Chris Downs loads the bases, but gets a groundout to end the game in eight innings 15-5! Cal Poly has another date with UC Irvine Sunday at 3 p.m. in a winner-takes-all game for the Big West Championship!
A hit batter puts two runners on in the eighth, Ethan Marmie has intermittently warmed up throughout the past few innings, but now Tanner Sagouspe is getting hot in the Mustang bullpen
Chris Downs out for his sixth inning of work, pitch count climbing over 100 pitches.
JACK COLLINS OFF THE CLUBHOUSE IN LEFT!! The Mustangs are piling it on 15-5 in the eighth inning! Second home run of the tournament for Cal Poly. Thats all in the inning, the Mustangs break their habit of scoring four runs in an inning and will have to settle for just three runs in the eighth.
Dylan Kordic has an RBI groundout for now, but UC Irvine is challenging the call on the field. 13-5 Mustangs as it stands. Call is confirmed.
Chris Downs puts up a zero, its 12-5 after seven innings. New battery mate for Jack Ross as Zach Crandall comes in to catch for Irvine.
A flyout ends the frame, seventh inning stretch time with Cal Poly leading 12-5.
Two on and two out for the Mustangs in the seventh, Mustangs looking to add on more.
Downs turns in another scoreless frame as we head into the late innings in Fullerton. 12-5 Cal Poly after six.
New second baseman Zach Fjelstad bounces it like a basketball but is able to recover in time to get the final out of the sixth. Another four spot for Cal Poly give them a seven run lead. Chris Downs back out for another inning of work.
The bases are no longer loaded, because Casey Murray Jr. rips a 2-RBI single into center. 12-5 Mustangs, and its the end of David Butler’s night. He leaves with runners on the corners and no one out. Jack Ross comes in relief for the Anteaters.
The Mustangs take advantage of more defensive miscues, this time its Anthony Martinez’s offline throw that pulls Yeaman off the bag. Give Nate Castellon the RBI, 10-5 Mustangs bases still loaded.
Alejandro Garza flares one out to right and it drops to score a run. 9-5 Cal Poly, bases still loaded and still no outs.
Fenn is first pitch swinging and hits into a tailor made double play, but Colin Yeaman has trouble fielding it at shortstop and everyone is safe to load the bases.
David Butler is showing signs of control issues, a lead off walk and hit by pitch brings Blake Penso out to the mound for a chat. Two on and no out for Ryan Fenn as action starts in the UC Irvine bullpen.
Chris Downs gets a strikeout to end the inning, but its back to back innings with a run for Irvine.
A one out walk turns into a run for the Anteaters as a passed ball advances Chase Call to second before Blake Penso almost drills Downs with his base hit up the middle. 8-5 Cal Poly as Ethan Marmie has started to get hot in the Mustang bullpen.
A popped up bunt doubles off Kordic at first as we head to the home half of the fifth.
Irvine is caught trying to take home on a passed ball, 8-4 Cal Poly as Downs gets out of the bases loaded jam.
Call on the field stands, 8-4 Mustangs with Jacob McCombs representing the tying run for UC Irvine.
Chris Downs walks the bases loaded, then hits Anthony Martinez in the hands on a full count. Larry Lee is out for a discussion but as of now it’s 8-4 Cal Poly with the tying run at the plate for UC Irvine.
One out traffic for UC Irvine, a double followed by a walk compels Jack Collins to make a mound visit.
Butler gets the first batter he faces to strike out to end the inning, but its back-to-back four run frames for Cal Poly.
Suarez cant escape the fourth inning, only three runs are charged to him as of now but he is responsible for the two runners on base. David Butler comes on in relief for the Anteaters.
Deja vu in the fourth inning, Alejandro Garza joins Daudet and Fenn with his second RBI, four more runs have scored in the fourth after Cal Poly scored four in the third. 8-3 Cal Poly.
Ryan Fenn has his third RBI of the night with a sacrifice fly to center scoring Vachini, 7-3 Mustangs with two out.
Zach Daudet adds another RBI to his collection, this time with a double down the third base line to score another. 6-3 Cal Poly.
Dante Vachini joins in on the fun with an RBI single through the right side of the infield! Cal Poly leads 5-3.
Ryder Brooks’ day is done, with one on and one out in the fourth Danny Suarez comes on in relief.
A two out hit by pitch doesn’t matter as Downs turns in a scoreless frame for the Mustangs. 4-3 Cal Poly as we go to the top of the fourth.
Ryder Brooks finally gets out of the inning, but the Mustangs have taken the lead as we head to the bottom of the third. 4-3 Mustangs.
The Mustangs are moving the line! Alejandro Garza smokes it up the middle and scores Fenn, 4-3 Cal Poly.
Ryan Fenn delivers! His single through the left side scores both runners and we are tied at three apiece.
Zach Daudet cashes in with an RBI-single to left, an ensuing wild pitch makes it runners on second and third with one out. 3-1 Irvine
A base hit by Dylan Kordic leads into a Jack Collins hit by pitch. Two on and no out for the Mustangs.
Downs collects a loud flyout to get out of the inning. To the third!
A sac fly and a two out RBI-single brings home another pair of runs in the frame. That will spell the end of Torres’ night, Chris Downs inherits runners on first and second with two out. 3-0 UC Irvine.
Jake Torres walks the bases loaded in the second as Chris Downs starts to get loose in the Mustang bullpen.
McCombs comes around to score on an RBI single by Blake Penso. 1-0 Anteaters with the potential for more in the second.
Jacob McCombs is hit by a Torres offering in the helmet, bouncing high up into the air. First baserunner for either side.
Cam Hoiland is hit by a two-strike two-out pitch, but is ruled to have leaned into it and is called out. Call is confirmed after review and the inning is over.
Both teams go down 1-2-3, to the second we go at Goodwin Field scoreless through one.
Nothing happening in the top of the frame, Jake Torres makes his first career start as a Mustang 50 appearances in.
The national anthem gives way to the hum of the field lights here at Goodwin Field. There is still about an hour before the lights take full effect but shadows are being cast from the third base side already. Ryder Brooks gets the ball for the Anteaters to start this game.
The Mustangs turn right around from their victory over Hawai’i to face off against UC Irvine in the Big West Championship game. As the tournament is a double elimination format, Cal Poly must knock off the Anteaters twice in a row to claim the Big West Championship crown. Jake Torres draws the start for the Mustangs after saving the game just one hour ago. First pitch coming up soon.
No. 2 seed Cal Poly baseball faces No. 4 seed Hawaii in a win-or-go-home Big West Tournament game
Ballgame! Torres shuts the door, and Cal Poly ends Hawai’i’s season and advances to the Big West Championship! 2-1 is your final. The Mustangs will face UC Irvine for the fifth time this season, in another elimination game. If the Mustangs win tonight, they will force another game tomorrow. Stay tuned for coverage of tonight’s game. First pitch is at 7:05.
Morano’s day is done after allowing two hits. Torres will enter with two men on and one out.
Hawai’i gets the leadoff man on in the ninth. Jake Torres is getting loose in the bullpen.
Hawai’i pitching has been fantastic today, holding a good Mustangs offense to just four hits. After eight innings, it remains 2-1 Cal Poly. Morano will look to seal the deal in the ninth and send the Mustangs to the championship game(s).
Another scoreless inning from Morano. The bats will look to add some insurance in the bottom of the eighth. It would not be a surprise if Morano finishes the game at this point. 2-1 Mustangs, bottom eight coming up.
Cal Poly goes down quietly in the seventh. Still 2-1 Mustangs. Morano’s day is indeed NOT over, he’ll head back out for a sixth inning of work. His season high in innings pitched before today was four.
In what might be his last inning in relief, Morano tosses another zero. His line: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 K.
Rodriguez gets a double play to end the sixth. Cal Poly is still in front 2-1 as we head to the seventh. Morano is on the mound for his fifth inning of work.
Morano, who’s given up just two earned runs since April 15, spins another scoreless frame.
Fenn caught stealing to end the fifth. Still 2-1 Cal Poly.
Morano is dialed in; another quick inning for the lefty out of the pen preserves the Cal Poly lead.
UH escapes a two-out jam, but the damage is done. Two runs in the inning for Cal Poly, and they’ll take a 2-1 lead into the fifth. Morano back out to the mound.
And just like that, the Mustangs have the lead! Casey Murray Jr. legs out an infield single to score Garza. 2-1 Mustangs in the fourth.
The Mustangs are on the board! After a wild pitch advanced both runners, Nate Castellon hooks a fly ball down the left field line for a sacrifice fly. 1-1.
Alejandro Garza follows Fenn with a single of his own. Two on, nobody out.
Ryan Fenn delivers the first hit for Cal Poly, a screaming line drive into left center for a single.
Nice quick inning from Morano. Mustangs need to get the bats going in the bottom of the fourth.
Cal Poly is still hitless as the third inning concludes. 1-0 UH as we head to the fourth. Morano will head back out to the hill.
Defensive masterclass in the top of the third inning from catcher Jack Collins. Both runners that Morano allowed were quickly erased via a back-pick and a caught-stealing. Scoreless frame from Morano. Collins due up.
Another scoreless inning for the Mustangs. Remains 1-0 Rainbow Warriors after two. Josh Morano is in for Kovach in the third inning.
Quiet inning for the Mustangs. 1-0 Hawai’i after one.
Former Mustang Freddy Rodriguez gets the ball for Hawai’i in this do-or-die game.
Kovach surrendered an early run and then loaded the bases with nobody out. The lefthander proceeded to strike out two and get a ground ball to escape the jam. 1-0 Rainbow Warriors mid first.
We are underway from Goodwin Field in Fullerton as Kovach takes the mound!
Luke Kovach gets the ball for the Mustangs, looking to extend their season.
The Mustangs are set to face the Rainbow Warriors in their third game of the Big West Conference Championship. The winner will face UC Irvine in the championship game at 7 p.m., while the loser’s tournament is over. In the championship, UC Irvine will need to be defeated twice, with a game at 3 p.m. on Sunday, if necessary.
No. 2 seed Cal Poly battles regular season champions No. 1 seed UC Irvine in second-round matchup
Cal Poly gets the bases loaded but hit into a game-ending double play to close things out at Goodwin Field. 15-3 is the final score, Cal Poly awaits the winner of Hawai’i/Fullerton. The Mustangs next play on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Two quick baserunners spell the end of the day for Irvine’s Trevor Hansen, no one out as Ryan Fenn will face David Utagawa.
Kvidahl sets Irvine down in order, Cal Poly must score three runs to avoid the mercy rule. 15-3 Irvine as we head to the top of the seventh. Jake Downing gets the call to pinch hit for Dante Vachini to lead off the inning.
Double switch for Cal Poly, Erik Kvidahl is in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Mack Higuchi comes in to catch.
A single by Casey Murray Jr. brings home Garza, while Dylan Kordic collects an RBI groundout. 15-3 Irvine as we head to the bottom of the sixth.
The Mustangs are still showing signs of life. Ryan Fenn leads off the sixth with a double before being driven home by Alejandro Garza. Nate Castellon follows that with a single to put two runners on and no out. 15-1 Anteaters.
Jack Collins catches UC Irvine sleeping off the bag and back picks Alonso Reyes to end the bottom of the fifth.
A bases clearing double brings home three more Anteaters, and a single brings that runner home. The Anteaters have scored six runs with two outs, and have batter around on the Mustangs. 15-0 UC Irvine.
After a scoreless top of the fifth, UC Irvine gets two more runs on an RBI double and Troy Cooper will exit the game in favor of Charlie Royle. 11-0 Anteaters
Blake Penso also jumps on one and ropes it over the right center wall. The last three batters have scored and that spells the end of Volmerding’s day, final line of 3 2/3rd innings, 9 runs on 11 hits and 3 walks. Troy Cooper comes on in relief for Cal Poly.
Jacob McCombs gets all of the first pitch he sees and sends it into the netting beyond the right field wall. 7-0 Anteaters.
A single laced into left field scores Irvine’s fourth run of the contest. Cal Poly isn’t out of danger yet with runners on the corners and one out.
Nate Castellon’s one out double is for naught as Cal Poly is unable to convert it into a run. Still 3-0 Irvine heading to the bottom of the fourth.
Irvine strikes again in the bottom of the third, an error charged to Daudet at first allows the runner from second to score. 3-0 Anteaters at the end of the third inning.
End 2: 2-0 Irvine, each team gets a runner into scoring position but are unable to push a run across
A pair of two out hits from Cam Hoiland and Dylan Kordic put the Mustangs on second and third, but are unable to cash in as a fly ball ends the away half of the second.
Volmerding rolls up the 6-4-3 double play to escape further damage, Cal Poly behind early heading into the second frame.
Irvine strikes first on an RBI fielders choice, followed by a single into left to score another run. 2-0 Anteaters and still no outs in the first.
Nothing happening for the Mustang offense in the first. Lefty Josh Volmerding comes out looking for a shutdown inning.
The anthem has been sung and UC Irvine starter Trevor Hansen has finished his warmup tosses. Cal Poly is the designated away team with Zach Daudet digging in to start the ballgame.
Cal Poly will face off against nationally ranked UC Irvine at Goodwin Field in Fullerton, Calif. in the second round of the Big West Tournament. The Mustangs picked up their first postseason win since 2014 when they defeated Sacramento State in the San Luis Obispo Regional. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m., stay tuned for live updates!
No. 2 seed Cal Poly takes on No. 3 seed CSU Fullerton in the Mustangs’ tournament opener
Mustangs win! Cal Poly beats CSU Fullerton 7-2 in the first round of the Big West Tournament. They will face No.1 seed UC Irvine on Friday at Goodwin Field at 3 p.m.
The Mustangs threaten in the eighth, but come up empty. Jake Torres will look to close the game out for Cal Poly. 7-2 Mustangs after eight.
The Titans are on the board, hitting back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the eighth. 7-2 Mustangs.
7-0 Cal Poly through seven innings. Jake Torres will pitch the top of the eighth.
Hoiland makes it a seven-spot for Cal Poly, as his single up the middle scores Nate Castellon.
Torres K’s the first batter he sees, and the Titans are scoreless through seven frames.
At 89 pitches, Naess went out for a seventh inning of work, but after giving up two two-out singles, manager Larry Lee opted for lefty Jake Torres out of the bullpen. The sophomore starter’s final line: 6.2 IP, 8 H, 0 ER, 4 K.
Vachini picked up RBI number two on the evening, scoring Cam Hoiland to make it 6-0 Mustangs after six!
As the Cal Poly bullpen was starting to get busy, Naess escaped more trouble, stranding two Titans on base.
End 5: The Mustangs load the bases with one out but fail to capitalize on the scoring opportunity. 5-0 Cal Poly as Naess heads back to the mound for the sixth.
Daudet scores from first on a double from Fenn, his second RBI of the game. Daudet and Fenn are yet to get out at the top of the Mustangs order. 5-0 Cal Poly.
The Titans get a lead-off double, but Naess leaves the runner stranded, keeping his clean sheet.
Another scoreless inning for both offenses. We’re through four frames at Goodwin Field, Mustangs on top, 4-0
Nothing doing for the Mustangs in the bottom of the third. The score remains 4-0 Cal Poly after three.
Naess escapes a third-inning jam and keeps the Titans off the board. Mustangs back up to the plate looking to add more!
End of two: Mustangs 4, Titans 0. Griffin Naess heads back to the mound for the third.
The Mustangs’ third run of the inning comes on a Ryan Fenn RBI single to right field. 4-0 Cal Poly.
Dante Vachini drives in another! The freshman’s RBI double makes it 3-0 Mustangs with only one out in the bottom of the second.
BOOGIE BOMB! Casey “Boogie” Murray Jr. crushes a solo shot to left field to lead off the bottom of the second. 2-0 Mustangs.
End of the first inning: Mustangs 1, Titans 0.
MUSTANGS STRIKE FIRST! An RBI groundout from Alejandro Garza scores Zach Daudet. It’s 1-0 Mustangs early, and they’re threatening for more.
A strike-them-out-throw-them-out double play caps a scoreless first inning for Naess, Mustangs coming to the plate.
Griffin Naess takes the mound for the Mustangs, and we are underway here from Goodwin Field!
Cal Poly will take on CSU Fullerton at Goodwin Field in Fullerton, Calif., in their first matchup of the Big West Conference Tournament. First pitch is at 7 p.m. This is the first Big West postseason tournament since 1998, and the Mustangs’ first playoff game since they hosted a regional in 2014. Stay tuned for live updates!
